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Top 20 Best Time Travel Anime Series & Movies

Here’s a question: what’s your favorite time travel anime? Are there even enough good titles in this sci-fi subgenre?

It isn’t filled to the brim each season unlike with the case of isekai titles, but it’s not impossible to find some great ones.

If you’re in the mood for some mind-boggling twists and turns (or even minor time travel elements in an otherwise typical anime) check out my list below.

And fair warning: spoilers ahead(in some cases). Some titles here have time travel itself as a key turning point or surprise in the series, so if you don’t want to know any more just skim the titles and pick one that interests you!

20. Nobunaga Concerto

I’m going to start with Nobunaga Concerto, an anime that does have time travel — but is also more of an isekai.

This is why I’m including it on my list but, but not the highest for sure. So what’s it all about?

As you may have already guessed, it involves Oda Nobunaga . Arguably one of the most popular Japanese historical figures.

He was a brutal leader, but he was also brilliant and a key figure in the reunification of Japan.

But Nobunaga isn’t the OP. In Nobunaga Concerto, he meets Saburou who mysteriously time travels from the 21st century and looks like him.

Saburou was just an ordinary high school kid, but now he must replace Nobunaga, who wishes to relax in his final years.

19. Natsu-iro no Sunadokei (Sandglass of Summer Colors)

This is an old anime. Like, really old.

But while its character design, animation, and overall quality haven’t stood the test of time, it is a worthwhile show that involves more time travel than Nobunaga Concerto.

Sandglass of Summer Colors is an adaptation of a video game, a visual novel (VN) from Princess Soft that was released way back in 2002.

Also, it only has two episodes; it’s an OVA. Still, it’s an intriguing show.

Yes it once again involves a teenage boy, this time named Kotaro Makimura.

But here, the time travel comes in the form of Kotaro waking up to the next school year, and then going back and forth to specific days of his summer vacation.

Through this he learns some very crazy news about his girlfriend Kaho Serizawa. It gets deep.

18. Buddy Complex

In 2014, Sunrise released an action-heavy mecha title that surprisingly wasn’t another entry to their sprawling Gundam franchise.

It’s called Buddy Complex, and it does enough to distinguish itself from other similar titles with its appealing trio, plot, and solid execution.

Buddy Complex starts with the main hero Aoba Watase nearly getting killed in the hands of a massive robot from the future.

Hina Yumihara saves him, and also takes him 70 years into the future for him to learn all about the fighting robots and possibly prevent his demise.

Can he go back to his actual timeline? Or is he stuck in this future of warring military forces?

17. Doraemon

Yes, Doraemon is indeed a time-travel anime — and quite a good one at that.

Some argue that the time travel aspect is a mere gimmick here. But I honestly love what the anime has done with it.

The story isn’t about a dystopian future and someone who wants to save it by going back to the past.

No, it’s about Sewashi Nobi from the 22nd century sending a cat robot to improve the life of his grandfather Nobita Nobi — and that’s wonderful.

With 1,700 episodes, Doraemon has proven that this subgenre can be wholesome for kids.

Likewise, who doesn’t want a four-dimensional pouch that can bring out all sorts of gadgets of different sizes?

16. Punch Line

Punch Line was MAPPA’s third original anime after Garo: The Animation and Zankyou no Terror, the latter being one of my all-time favorites.

No, Punch Line wasn’t a modern classic in my eyes at all.

It didn’t have the serious or ambitious tone of those previous shows.

However, Punch Line was a creative risk that needs commending — and even a reappraisal from anime fans.

It’s silly but fully aware of it.

How silly? It involves spirits, nose bleeding, panty shots.

Also, the OP has to avoid looking at panties as he travels through time as a spirit. Otherwise a meteor immediately kills all life on Earth. So that’s fun.

15. InuYasha

I’ve got another entry here from Sunrise Studio.

InuYasha was one of the biggest shounen titles before series like Naruto, Bleach, and Fairy Tail took over — and it does have time travel.

Kagome Higurashi goes back hundreds of years to feudal Japan. The difference is instead of meeting a general, he meets a white-haired guy who also has dog ears.

Also, both Kagome and Inuyasha can travel between modern Japan and feudal Japan with relative ease.

And I suggest InuYasha just because it’s one of the best shounen series of all time. Time travel or not.

14. Irozuku Sekai no Ashita kara (Iroduku: The World in Colors)

I have a soft spot for original anime. It takes a lot of guts to push through with a story you don’t know will work out.

It doesn’t have a built-in fan base unlike with adaptations of manga, LNs, and video games.

But Iroduku: The World in Colors was more than just an original anime.

It was a visually imaginative and wonderfully animated series, and it was clear that P.A. Works didn’t just do this half-heartedly.

Think of it as a blend of sci-fi, fantasy, and school drama.

A grandmother sends her emotionally distant granddaughter 60 years back to the past, but she doesn’t say why.

And now that she’s back to 2018(present when released) the young girl named Hitomi Tsukishiro learns all about self-discovery and human connection. Go see it.

13. Charlotte

Look, I get it — Angel Beats was a great anime series.

That was a show that managed to make me love all the students in just 13 episodes.

Plus, I’m confident that most viewers won’t ever forget the ending.

Since then, people have been clamoring for something like it from Jun Maeda.

Well Charlotte came into the fray, but it wasn’t exactly as good as Angel Beats or Clannad.

Still, Charlotte certainly has its moments as a school drama with time travel (among other powers).

Also this is an anime original, and I think the best moments outweigh the pacing and plot issues by the end.

I don’t blame you if you haven’t heard of Zipang.

Despite being released two full years later than Naruto, Zipang somehow sports a more old-school design.

Then again, it’s a fitting choice given the military and historical setting.

Simply put, it’s about a Japanese missile destroyer (a navy warship) called Mirai that gets itself into a storm, but it was no ordinary storm.

Once Mirai gets away from the storm, its crew realizes that they’ve all time-traveled to 1942 — back to the Second World War.

Exciting, right?

Here’s the more interesting part: They must try their best not to change history. But can the crew keep themselves in the background when people are dying left and right?

11. Natsu no Arashi (Summer Storm!)

Interestingly enough, I didn’t catch this until last year — a full decade since its release.

But hey, this is an excellent example of “better late than never” because this is a fine mix of time travel and comedy.

Natsu no Arashi is about, again, a male teenager who meets a beautiful girl.

But Sayoko Arashiyama is far from an ordinary teenager.

She may not even be a teenager as Hajime Yasaka finds a photo of her in her 60s.

What’s going on? And why does Sayoko still look young?

Check out Natsu no Arashi. It’s made by Shaft so expect some visual delights.

10. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (When They Cry)

We’re getting closer to the highest ranking so let’s be really careful now. I did warn about spoilers, so be prepared.

When They Cry deceives its audience by portraying itself as another generic anime with a guy OP and a bunch of cute girls.

Only for it to actually be a murder mystery with a time loop to boot.

Also, it may even be the only horror and time travel anime out there.

One minute you’re seeing kids playing together, all smiles. The next, they’re splattered with blood and having edgy expressions.

Admittedly I hate what happened to the anime adaptation here (although the movie Orange: Future was way better in terms of animation quality and consistency).

I read the manga, and it had moments that could’ve catapulted the anime as a classic.

But the anime did not meet or exceed expectations.

Orange was just above average. But still good enough to warrant a spot here.

If you think the anime was good and made you cry and laugh, consider the gorgeous and much more emotional manga too.

8. Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu (Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World)

I think Re:Zero is a fine isekai and time travel anime.

It could’ve been like any typical isekai after all the hype for Sword Art Online. But it etched its own place in history.

Re:Zero makes you think that it’s just another guy getting transported to a fantasy world. But the time loop aspect elevates the series to new heights of dread and sheer desperation for Subaru.

It’s not just an escape to a better world with waifu material like Emilia and Rem, it’s overall a really engaging show. And I’m definitely excited for season 2 .

7. Kimi no Na wa. (Your Name.)

Yup, this is big spoiler territory.

I sure hope that you’ve already watched the critically acclaimed movie, which also broke records around the world — or that you’ve read the novel of the same name.

Because time travel is what made audiences gasp in the middle of the movie. Kimi no Na wa is seemingly just about two people living in different regions… but what viewers didn’t know was that they also lived in different periods.

I still remember the shock everyone had in the cinemas (because I saw this twice in theaters).

There is nothing quite like the audiovisual spectacle of a Makoto Shinkai film on the big screen. And the ending is so rewarding if you’ve watched Five Centimeters Per Second.

6. Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei (The Tatami Galaxy)

Masaaki Yuasa needs no introduction after Devilman Crybaby garnered rave reviews from fans and critics all over the world, in part because it was available on Netflix.

But even before that, I was a huge fan of Yuasa’s directorial prowess.

He’s a man with impeccable skill, ensuring that both substance and style are way above the competition.

The Tatami Galaxy features rapid conversations (so you have to read fast if you prefer subtitles like me) and there’s so much going on when this is all about a young man’s life (and love life).

Watch him go through some sort of Groundhog Day, but in a much more artistic, magical manner.

It’s a rewarding experience across space and time (and tatami), I promise you that.

5. Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

At this point, I’m not sure which of my top picks have time travel as one of its biggest turning points.

This one has a certain episode in the latter half that completely turns it from an impressive series to arguably one of the best anime of all time.

You may not agree that it’s a “deconstruction” of the magical girl genre . But it’s clear evidence that Gen Urobuchi could change the game if he had the right team.

Also, this original anime looks breathtaking.

It’s dark, it’s exciting, it’s inspirational.

Shaft had a classic in their hands and they didn’t waste the opportunity.

4. Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya)

As one of Kyoto Animation’s first big hits, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya took the relatively small 2006 global anime community by storm.

It was hilarious, had a stellar set of characters, had a viral opening song, and had episodes that didn’t line up chronologically.

And yet the order of events didn’t ruin the story at all.

The nonlinear structure enabled a new way of looking at the character dynamics. And it made rewatches (in the chronological order) more rewarding.

Once you’ve watched the series (and bless you if you’ve seen the Endless Eight arc) go ahead and enjoy The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya .

3. Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time)

Like Masaaki Yuasa and Makoto Shinkai, Mamoru Hosoda is one of the best anime directors today.

And he’s done many more amazing films besides this one: Summer Wars, Wolf Children, and The Boy and the Beast, just to name a few.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time works as well as it does because of how it didn’t just use time travel as a gimmick.

It thought of how to shape the character and the story as a whole, creating tension and developing emotional impact in the latter half.

Plus I think many of us can relate to Makoto Shonno. Spending the last year of high school knowing that life is about to change, and yet you’re unsure of your own future.

It’s thrilling, hilarious, and has a heart at its core.

2. Boku dake ga Inai Machi (ERASED)

Am I making a controversial choice by putting this so high on my list?

Not really.

Sure, not everyone was a fan of the adaptation. And I admit that the suspense thriller aspect to it was a bit heavy-handed.

But like with how I feel about Zankyou no Terror, ERASED has highs that are so high, they easily make up for the lows.

It’s an imperfect masterpiece in my eyes.

The first episode was a 10/10 with how it easily grabbed my attention by the end with the change in aspect ratio, signifying the drastic change in time… it’s really interesting.

ERASED has a killer OP from none other than Asian Kung-Fu Generation, and I still think that the birthday scene of Kayo is one of the most heart-wrenching yet simultaneously heartwarming moments in anime.

Also, (big spoiler ahead) I dislike that some fans think the show was bad just because the guy didn’t end up with the girl he saved(and attempted to save again and again) in the past.

Look, you don’t just get to marry someone because you saved their life. You save someone because it’s the right thing to do, not because you expect something in return.

1. Steins;Gate

Is there even any other anime that could be at the No. 1 spot?

It’s the first show that comes to mind if you ask most anime fans what the best time travel anime is. And for good reason.

Furthermore, Steins;Gate isn’t just lauded as the top time travel series ever.

It’s also in the running as possible the best anime in general, usually in competition with FMA: Brotherhood.

Steins;Gate is both an outstanding gateway show to anime and one that becomes rewarding once you’ve consumed a ton of anime.

Some claim that it’s overrated, but one thing’s for sure: It set the standard for what a time travel anime could achieve in terms of sheer brilliance and entertainment.

Millennial introvert on the lookout for slice-of-life anime, world cinema, and European music. Follow on Twitter @notspencer08

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• The Tatami Galaxy explores alternate realities and teaches acceptance of the past.
• Summertime Rendering offers expertly crafted mysteries in a time travel setting.
• Erased is a gripping murder thriller where the protagonist goes back in time to save a friend.

Traversing time is one of the most popular tropes in fiction, and anime is no exception. With the amount of stories revolving around the same theme, you'd expect there to be repetition. While there are certainly flops, most stories keep on finding new ways of keeping the trope fresh.

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From wholesome coming-of-age stories to psychological thrillers and Isekai, there's a seemingly infinite number of good shows to choose from.

The Tatami Galaxy

Going back in time for a cooler college life.

Have you ever regretted the past, and wished you could change it? The protagonist of this amazing series got an opportunity to do so, wanting to change his dull college life.

Unlike the thrilling mysteries and converging timelines that most other shows have, The Tatami Galaxy beautifully explores how different actions can lead to greatly varied outcomes, and how our fantasies and reality do not always align. The show uses time travel as a trope to teach you to be more accepting of the past, and to focus more on the present.

Summertime Rendering

Mystery with mythology.

One of the biggest appeals of the time travel genre is mystery, and Summertime Rendering has some of the most expertly crafted, thrilling ones seen in any time travel media. It's difficult to explain what makes the show such an amazing ride without spoiling it all. Each mystery is delicately written, with each detail adding something to the story.

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The story follows Shinpei returning to his childhood hometown, only to realize that his childhood friend has been killed. Chaos then ensues when said childhood friend returns as a shadow, and time loops occur to figure out just what is happening on this isolated island.

The Melancholy Of Haruhi Suzumiya

Keeping a highschooler god in check.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya explores a world where a teenage girl, the titular character Haruhi Suzumiya, plays the role of God. The thing is, she doesn't know that it's her will that shapes reality. She creates the S.O.S Brigade to find all things supernatural, consisting of an esper, a time traveller, and an alien trying to keep Haruhi in check, so her unstable mind does not create any dangerous situations for the world.

The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is a movie that explores a timeline where Haruhi never existed, and focuses more on Kyon and Nagato.

One such dangerous situation occurs in the Endless Eight arc, where Haruhi's desire for a never-ending summer break creates a time loop where summer keeps repeating itself. Unlike most other interpretations of time loops, the protagonist is not entirely aware that time is repeating.

The eight full episodes of the same sequence of events being animated in different ways portray time loops in a way that shows just how disorienting and frustrating they can be for the characters experiencing it.

Going Back In Time To Save Your Childhood Friend

Erased is a murder thriller that immediately hooks you in. It follows Satoru, who has an ability that lets him go back in time before a catastrophe occurs, giving him a chance to stop it. When his mother gets into a fatal accident, instead of being sent back an hour or two to help it, Satoru is sent back in time 18 years instead.

The show then follows Satoru in the body of his elementary school self trying to save the life of a former classmate who was murdered 18 years ago. If you're any fan of mystery thrillers or time travel, Erased is absolutely a must-watch.

Pictures Really Do Make You Travel Back In Time

An ability as useful as going back in time doesn't have to be saved for grandiose goals. Sometimes, helping others (and earning a quick buck doing so) is enough of a reason to bend the laws of reality. Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang do just that, using photos to go back in time, working at Qiao Ling's Time Photo Studio.

Cheng Xiashi can go back in time by going inside pictures taken at the time, while Lu Guang can telepathically communicate with and guide Cheng Xiaoshi.

However, sometimes helping others isn't as simple as you want it to be. Link Click follows the Time Photo Studio as it meets various clients and goes back in time to solve problems, anywhere from unresolved conflicts between people to finding the culprits behind heinous crimes.

Returning By Death

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Start over in another world.

This seemingly simple premise snowballs in complexity when you put other elements of a magical world in it. Subaru has no other powers; he can only use the information gained from returning to the past to fend off enemies that can kill him and all his friends with a single look of their eye.

Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song

An idol android saves the world.

In terms of complexity, Vivy might have the most out of the box plot in this list. The show follows Vivy, an android created with the sole purpose of singing to an audience. Despite people not wishing to listen to her songs, Vivy would've lived a normal life as an idol robot, if not for a certain event.

For some reason, an android, Matsumoto, came from the future and asked for Vivy's help in saving the world from ruin. What ensued next is a tale across centuries with Matsumoto popping up out of nowhere whenever a catastrophic event is about to occur, and Vivy helping him stop said event.

Steins;Gate

The perfect time travel anime.

If we're talking time travel, no series could even come close to Steins; Gate. The series follows Okabe Rintaro, or the self-proclaimed mad scientist Hououine Kyouma, as he battles his fated enemy, the Organization. All of this seemed to be Okabe's delusions, nothing more than escapism.

However, as it turns out, all of this does end up being true. Okabe and his group accidentally create a time machine that can send messages to the past, changing the actions of all those affected by the message. This ends up creating extremely intricate timelines, with Okabe alone being able to guide the world.

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The 20 Best Time Travel Anime

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Despite the existence of time-loops, stable and malleable timelines, and parallel dimensions, there are really only two types of time travel in anime , which are further divided into two subgroups. One where every action has massive consequences and one where time travel is only a device to comment on the era that the protagonist is exploring.

As a rule of thumb, Time Camping media tends to be pretty uncomplicated and does not leave viewers with an aftertaste of bitter existential dread. On the other hand, anime about time travel are more rewarding to watch for those into intricate narrative mechanics and unexpected plot twists.

Updated on April 2nd, 2024 by Chelsea Steele: Time travel is a classic sci-fi concept that can be found in just about every form of media under the sun, and that includes anime. In fact, some of the greatest anime series of all time feature this unique premise, offering mind-bending stories that often delve into the psychological genre. We've updated this list to meet CBR's current publication standard, providing more info on some of the best time travel anime currently available.

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20 Tokyo Revengers Follows Takemichi A He Travels Back In Time To Save His Loved Ones

Tokyo revengers rating scores.

Tokyo Revengers provides a familiar "do over" time travel plot, filtered through a bunch of classic delinquent tropes. The lead is Takemichi Hanagaki, a man leading a life full of regrets until he gains the ability to go back in time. Eager to save his childhood girlfriend, Takemichi's actions send him down a dangerous road of trying to give everyone a better future.

Tokyo Revengers is a series that will appeal to a certain brand of anime fan. Though the sci-fi elements are always prevalent, the true focus is on all the delinquents in Takemichi's life , and whether Takemichi can truly change as a person. With a deep, emotional story, a strong cast of characters, and tons of thrilling fight scenes, Tokyo Revengers joins together the action of classic shonen and the otherworldliness of sci-fi for a series like no other.

Tokyo Revengers

Hanagaki Takemichi lives an unsatisfying life right up until his death. Waking up 12 years in the past, he reckons with the eventual fate of his friends and tries to prevent an unfortunate future.

19 Iroduku: The World In Colors' Hitomi Tsukishiro Seeks Help From The Past

Iroduku: the world in colors rating scores, 10 most whimsical anime, ranked.

Anime with a strange and otherworldly edge makes for odd but refreshing whimsical stories with thoughtful themes and a sense of wonder.

Iroduku: The World in Colors offers fans a bittersweet time travel romance series. In the year 2078, Hitomi Tsukishiro is a young witch who lost the ability to see colors after her mother abandoned her. Out of a desire to help her, Hitomi's grandmother Kohaku sends Hitomi back to the distant past of 2018. Though Hitomi has no idea what to do there, the people she meets in the Magic Photography Arts Club show her a different type of magic, as they restore the color to her life.

Fans of time travel and slice of life will find Iroduku an easy weekend binge. As ever with P.A. Works, fans can expect a visual showcase , as the studio outdoes themselves with Iroduku 's gorgeous and lush color palette. However, watching Hitomi learn how to reconnect with people is also a delight, even if the ending is obvious from the jump.

18 Re:Zero -Starting Life In Another World- Sees Subaru Stuck In A Time Loop Of Life & Death

Re:zero -starting life in another world- rating scores.

At the start of Re:Zero , protagonist Subaru Natsuki thinks he's going to have it easy when he awakens in an alternate world. He's expecting pretty women, and awesome special powers to navigate this new fantasy environment. However, what he discovers is he has one ability: when he dies, time rewinds back to an earlier point. What follows is Subaru figuring out a way through this new world, while dealing with the pain of his Return By Death ability . As he battles the despair of his new reality, he tries his best to use his power for good and help those around him.

Re:Zero is perfect for people who love time loop storylines. Over the course of the series, Re:Zero gradually turns into a puzzle, where Subaru is challenged to come up with the best possible option not just for himself, but the people around him. It's easily one of White Fox's best series, and time travel fans who don't mind a gritty fantasy world would do well with this one.

Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World

After being suddenly transported to another world, Subaru Natsuki and his new female partner are brutally murdered. However, Subaru awakens to a familiar scene, meeting the same girl again. The day begins to mysteriously repeat itself.

17 Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song Stars An AI Songstress Fighting To Save The Future

Vivy: fluorite eye's song rating scores.

Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song is like if Terminator 2's main hero was the T-800. One hundred years in the future, AI evolves enough to strike out at mankind, wiping out most of the population. The last chance is an advanced AI, Matsumoto, going back one hundred years with the knowledge of the future, to try and prevent the war between humanity and AI. In the past, Matsumoto relies on Vivy, the original sentient AI, to help him protect humanity.

Vivy is one of the best sci-fi series in recent memory. Following a captivating lead protagonist, viewers gradually see the development of human history, wondering whether the war with AI is inevitable or if the future can be changed. Wit Studio's beautiful animation makes every episode a treat, and the short runtime means people can get through the show in a single weekend if they like.

Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song

In Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song, Vivy, an AI tasked with singing to make people happy, is approached by a mysterious program asking for her help in destroying AI.

16 Link Click's Cheng Xiaoshi & Lu Guang Jump Through Time Using Photographs

Link click rating scores.

With Link Click , LAN Studio brings fans an awesome new time travel anime. In the series, Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang operate a business they call "Time Photo Studio". An innocuous name, but with their powers they're able to travel back in time by looking at photographs. While living in these snapshots through time, the two try to fulfill their client's requests, while also trying not to alter the past too much.

Link Click is one of the hottest new sci-fi anime , and its on pace to become a modern classic. The series offers an expertly crafted mystery that demands binging thanks to its awesome cliffhangers. LAN Studio's excellent animation also makes this anime quite the looker, which stands out that much more when Link Click goes into its superbly choreographed fight scenes. For fans of thrilling time travel stories, there's no reason not to check this series out.

Using superpowers to enter their clientele's photos one by one, Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang take their work seriously at "Time Photo Studio," a small photography shop set in the backdrop of a modern metropolis.

15 Occult Academy Follows Time Travelers On A Mission To Save Earth

Occult academy rating scores.

Directed by Tomokiho Ito, Occult Academy adeptly blends magical girls and time travel, weaving these two seemingly unrelated concepts into a seamless tapestry. The show revolves around a pre-apocalyptic scenario in which the heroes have to travel back in time to save the world.

Set in the year 2012, the world of Occult Academy has been ravaged by alien invaders. As mankind is on the brink of extinction, time travelers are sent back to 1999 and tasked with destroying an artifact named the Nostradamus Key, in hopes that this will stop the invasion from ever happening. Assuring humanity's survival requires the combined powers and battle expertise of a Traveler named Fumiaki and Maya, the headmaster of the Occult Academy. A unique mixture of sci-fi, mystery, and supernatural, Occult Academy is a fascinating approach to the classic time travel premise and is sure to appeal to fans of postapocalyptic stories.

14 Orange Follows Naho As She Tries To Change The Past

Orange rating scores, why orange hits way harder as an adult.

Orange is an underrated anime dealing with heartfelt themes like pain, depression, and friendship; it feels different when watched by an adult viewer.

Orange is a dramatic romance series that takes a very different approach to time travel. There aren't any battles against evil or earth-shaking disasters. On the contrary, the protagonist begins her character arc as a high school student traversing her way through life. This particular time travel incident starts when Naho Takamiya receives a letter allegedly written by her older self.

While reluctant to believe it at first, enough things happen for Naho to eventually accept the truth. As a result, she begins taking the advice offered by her older self, including watching out for a transfer student who vanishes in the future. Thus begins Naho's emotional journey as she and her group of friends slowly change reality and alter the past, ultimately saving the life of Kakeru Naruse in the process. One of anime's most unique time travel stories, Orange is an emotional and heartfelt story of friendship, love, and overcoming grief.

High school student Naho Takamiya receives a letter from her future self that warns her to avoid mistakes she will make involving a new transfer student, Kakeru Naruse, a troubled boy whom she meets and begins to fall in love with.

13 Zipang Follows Modern Soldiers As They Travel Back To WWII Japan

Zipang rating scores.

Plenty of books and movies have taken modern-day soldiers and equipment into the past. For example, the naval drama The Final Countdown placed a U.S. carrier group into the Pacific a day before Pearl Harbor. Much like the 1980 film, Zipang also places 21st-century warriors into World War II , but not where they can serve as saviors.

Instead, they land in Japan in the early 1940s, which is a radically different place. With their accumulated knowledge, they figure out how their country's forces can defeat the Allies. However, they're painfully aware of what the Showa era was like in Japan, which is why they desperately attempt to stay away from anything resembling warfare. A remarkable re-telling of WWII Japan, Zipang follows Commander Kadomatsu and his crew as they set off an unstoppable chain of events that alter history as they know it.

12 Buddy Complex Is The Story Of An Unlikely Hero Sent To The Future

Buddy complex rating scores.

Buddy Complex is technically part of the Gundam family . And yet, it has a completely different vibe to it than the rest of the franchise. Instead of a fight for the freedom of the present, the hero determines if he wants to get himself involved in a future battle between mecha forces. The story is simple and much shorter than most Gundam series, but it's nonetheless engaging, with a well-executed time travel premise that fans are sure to enjoy.

Buddy Complex begins when protagonist Aoba Watase is almost killed by a giant robot. Although he's saved from this gruesome fate, Aoba is simultaneously sent 70 years into the future. In this time, the world is ravaged by war, and Aoba quickly finds himself caught in the crossfire. He spends most of the story camping in that specific timeline, as his rescuers want him to learn all about the Gundams, allegedly to prevent his imminent death.

11 Summer Storm! Stars A Young Couple With The Ability To Jump Through Time Together

Summer storm rating scores.

Plots about characters being immortal or younger than their visual representations have been around since Oscar Wilde wrote The Picture of Dorian Gray . In Summer Storm! , this unique narrative notion is revised into a teenage romantic comedy. Here, a young adolescent named Hajime Yasaka meets a beautiful and charming girl named Sayoko Arashiyama. As they continue to develop a bond, Yasaka discovers that Sayoko is no ordinary girl.

Why she may appear average on the surface, Sayoko is actually the ghost of a girl who passed during the WWII era. After sensing a connection between them, Sayoko uses Yasaka to travel through time, where the two work together to save victims of the war. An underrated gem of the 2000s, Summer Storm! is probably one of the most unique time travel series out there.

10 Steins;Gate Is One Of Anime's Most Beloved Time Travel Stories

Steins;gate rating scores, why steins;gate is considered one of anime's best english dubs.

Several important factors help explain why Steins;Gate's English dub consistently ranks as one of anime's most respected and quality dubbings.

Though there have been many amazing time travel stories throughout anime history, few can compare to Steins;Gate . One of the most popular time travel anime out there, this thrilling psychological series is considered one of the best modern depictions of time travel to date. Steins;Gate stars Rintarou Okabe, an eccentric genius scientist who discovers a way to travel back in time using a bizarre device he has named the "Phone Microwave". Using this gadget, Rintarou is able to send messages to the past that alter the future.

Though a groundbreaking discovery, Rintarou soon finds that messing with the past has dire consequences. Thus, the series follows him on a harrowing journey as he desperately tries to fix his mistakes, ultimately creating a thread of alternate realities in the process.

Steins;Gate (2011)

After discovering time travel, a university student and his colleagues must use their knowledge of it to stop an evil organization and their diabolical plans.

9 Noein: To Your Other Self Uses Real-Life Science & Quantum Theory To Tell Its Story

Noein: to your other self rating scores.

With its complex storyline based on real-life science theories, Noein: To Your Other Self could also be titled Quantum Physics 101. This mind-boggling series features a universe divided between two factions, the Shangri-La who want to destroy the time-space continuum, and the Lacryma who refuse to let that happen. However, the key to saving everyone turns out to be the Dragon Torque, who is actually the protagonist, Haruka Kaminogi.

The writers rely on modern quantum theory as the almost-mystical motor of the story. Combined with elements of sci-fi and fantasy, this lesser-known time travel anime is easily one of the most unique within the genre. Noein: To Your Other Self is a great mix of various themes and subgenres because it manages to combine really chill slice-of-life episodes with epic space battles and even magical girls, all without breaking a single string theory along the way.

8 Sagrada Reset Stars A Strange Girl With A Unique Power

Sagrada reset rating scores.

Do not be fooled by Sagrada Reset 's slice-of-life exterior, as this anime is basically camouflage for an X-Men level backstory chock-full of philosophical dialogues. In this series, protagonist Kei Asai lives in Sakurada, a strange town where all its inhabitants possess otherworldly abilities. Kei's ability gives him an eidetic memory, which means he remembers practically everything. Meanwhile, his new friend Misora has the power to reset time up to three days in the past. Together, Kei and Misora combine their gifts to help others and make life in Sakurada better for everyone.

While they both join the Service Club to help people, the end of the first episode turns the slice-of-life premise on its head. Viewers soon realize that there are other powers moving the pieces of this small village, and it's up to these young heroes to unravel the mystery. A thrilling story of a supernatural conspiracy, Sagrada Reset is a must-watch for time travel and mystery fans alike.

Sagrada Reset (2017)

Set in the seaside town of Sakurada, where everyone possesses unique abilities, Kei Asai encounters Misora Haruki, a girl who can "reset" anything around her up to three days prior. However, she loses her own memories of the reset period. Kei, with his photographic memory, assists Misora in using her power to help others in town, forming a service club. As they solve various mysteries and challenges, Kei develops feelings for Misora, while questioning the ethics and consequences of altering the past.

7 The Disappearance Of Haruhi Suzumiya Introduces An Alternate World Where Haruhi Doesn't Exist

The disappearance of haruhi suzumiya rating scores.

The Haruhi Suzumiya franchise is well-known for its bizarre plots that feature many mind-bending and often confusing situations, from alternate dimensions to frustrating time loops. As such, it's no surprise that The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya carries on this trend. In the film, protagonist Kyon wakes to find himself in an alternate version of his reality, where everyone and everything has changed. Most notably, titular heroine Haruhi is nowhere to be found.

Thus, as the only one aware of this reality shift, Kyon must make choice. Either he accepts this new reality and lives a normal life, or he travels through time and space to restore things to the way they once were. Considered by many to be the best storyline in the entire franchise, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is hailed as one of the best time travel concepts in anime.

The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya

A week before Christmas, Kyon wakes up in a world where the SOS Brigade doesn't exist. Mikuru and Yuki don't recognize him, and Haruhi and Itsuki seem to have vanished.

6 Future Diary Combines Classic Battle Royale With Time Travel Elements

Future diary rating scores, the 15 deadliest death games in anime.

Death games are a common premise in anime and are very likely to leave their participants at death's door, like in Sword Art Online and Future Diary.

In the iconic series Future Diary , protagonist Yukiteru Amano gets dragged into a battle to the death where the victor becomes a God. His main weapon is a special cellphone that receives messages and tips from his future self. This allows him to foresee what will happen, albeit to a limited degree. However, all the other combatants also have similar cell phones, further adding to the challenge.

Future Diary has a tournament format where every episode features a serious duel between Yukiteru and the other candidates. Further, the mechanics of time travel are extremely well-developed in this series, particularly the unstable timeline/parallel worlds concept. Combined with the classic battle royale concept, Future Diary stands out as one of the more unique time travel series in anime.

Future Diary

A young man competes with people around the world for a chance to become the succesor of God, with a diary that is able to tell the future.

5 Erased Is A Gripping & Emotional Murder Mystery Story

Erased rating scores.

It's difficult to talk about Erased without mentioning The Butterfly Effect and the video game Life Is Strange. Both of them share several themes and mechanics with this plot. Erased stars Satou, a man who can travel backward in time a few minutes to stop disasters, but he doesn’t have perfect control over this ability. Nevertheless, Satou tries to use his ability to help others as best as he can.

However, when he’s accused of matricide, Satou's mysterious gift sends him back to his high school days, right before one of his classmates was murdered by a serial killer. Now living in the past, Satou sets out to solve the mystery and save Kayo Hinazuki before it's too late and history repeats itself. Those who've watched The Butterfly Effect know that Erased 's Satou has his work cut out for him, despite his time-traveling powers.

Erased (2016)

29-year-old Satoru Fujinuma is sent back in time 18 years to prevent the events leading to his mother's death, which began with a series of kidnappings while he was in 5th grade.

4 The Girl Who Leapt Through Time Follows Makoto As She Learns That Time Traveling Has Its Consequences

The girl who leapt through time rating scores.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time stars Makoto Konno, an outgoing high school girl who accidentally gains the ability to leap through time. She promptly uses this unanticipated blessing to make her life easier in a myriad of different ways as she tries to figure out what she wants in life. Unfortunately, Makoto soon realizes that she also has a number tattooed on her arm, representing the total amount of time leaps she can make. Not only that, but as she meddles with time, she starts to see the unexpected consequences of her time jumps and what that means for her future.

Although this plot is not epic or action-packed in any way, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time introduces an intriguing concept. Makoto's ability to use cumulative time-leaps is similar to asking a genie for more wishes. The anime is beautiful to watch and its slice-of-life setup is sure to appeal to those put off by historical time travel or overly elaborate sci-fi.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

A high-school girl named Makoto acquires the power to travel back in time, and decides to use it for her own personal benefits. Little does she know that she is affecting the lives of others just as much as she is her own.

3 The Tatami Galaxy Gives A Bitter College Student A Chance To Re-Do His Life

The tatami galaxy rating scores.

The Tatami Galaxy is framed within a Groundhog Day device of a single day resetting unto itself. The series follows a young man named Watashi, who keeps reliving the same first day of college and trying to get the perfect “rose-colored” college life he's always dreamed of. After lamenting bitterly to himself about his regrets, Watashi is sent through time to re-start his college days, in hopes of doing it right this time. Thus, he goes on a journey to face his regrets and finally do everything he wished he could before.

Although the structure of all the episodes is similar, the great thing about this 11-episode series is the incredibly original style and the fantastic soundtrack. The conclusion is also refreshing, as it highlights the optimistic aspects of time travel. In other words, the most important thing is not to make the perfect decision but to make a decision and enjoy it to the max.

The Tatami Galaxy

The Tatami Galaxy" follows an unnamed third-year college student at Kyoto University, dissatisfied with his unremarkable college experience. Encountering a demigod, he receives the chance to relive his past three years, hoping to experience the ideal "rose-colored campus life" he believes he missed. Each episode presents a different timeline where he joins a new club (such as the rowing club, the filmmaking club, or the mystery research club), hoping to find fulfilling friendships and romance, particularly with his classmate Akashi. However, due to his awkwardness, impulsiveness, and misguided decisions, each attempt ends in disappointment, leading him back to the beginning of the loop. Through these comedic and melancholic cycles, the series explores themes of self-discovery, missed opportunities, the impact of choices, and the importance of cherishing the present.

2 Thermae Romae Is A Hilarious Story Of What Would Happen If Someone From The Ancient World Came To The Future

Thermae romae rating scores, thermae romae novae is a fantastic change from the classic isekai formula.

Thermae Romae Novae is a highly unique anime that approaches the isekai genre in an unusual yet refreshing way.

A popular theme in time travel stories is the concept of bringing someone from the past to present and exposing them to the marvels of the modern world. Historical comedy Thermae Romae does just this, transporting an ancient Roman to the future. When Lucius, an ancient thermae (Roman bathhouse) architect, gets fired, he also somehow manages to time-travel to modern Japan through a Roman bath sinkhole. Here, he makes a name for himself as a genius architect whose ingenuities are far head of his time.

This hilarious series follows Lucius' daily adventures as he navigates the modern world, shocked and delighted by the future's modern technology. Thermae Romae is one of the most unique anime based on the time travel trope, as well as the most lighthearted. Those who complete the three-episode anime series might also want to view a brilliantly scripted live-action movie.

1 Nobunaga Concerto Follows Saburou As He Travels To Feudal Japan & Trades Places With A Legendary Warrior

Nobunaga concerto rating scores.

Nobunaga Concerto is a historical shonen series following the adventures of Saburou, a carefree high school student whose life is turned upside down when he suddenly finds himself transported back in time to the Sengoku Era. Here, he meets Nobunaga Oda, the legendary leader of the Akechi Clan. After this chance encounter, Saburou suddenly finds himself swapping identities with Nobunaga, posing as the general himself. Now in an unfamiliar time forced to pose as a feudal lord, Saburou must use his modern knowledge to get him by as he helps to unite Japan.

With its unique visuals and refreshing take on historical fiction, Nobunaga Concerto is a highly underrated time travel series. The story is simple and straightforward, yet gripping and emotional, with brilliant character development that really gets the audience invested.

25 Best Time Travel Anime Series & Movies

Here’s a question: what’s your favorite time travel anime? Is this type of science fiction even full of good books?

Time travel anime is one of the more popularly used story hooks in modern anime and it can take unique shapes!

It doesn’t have a lot of great titles every season like isekai does, but it’s not hard to find some good ones.

From tradition time travel anime stories ( Steins;Gate ) to ones that use “time reset” ( Re:Zero) , there is no shortage of creativity at play.

Check out my list below if you’re in the mood for some twists and turns that will blow your mind (or even small bits of time travel in an otherwise normal anime).

And fair warning: (in some cases) there will be surprises ahead. Some of these books are about time travel, and it’s a big part of the plot or a big surprise.

If you don’t want to know more, just skim the names and pick one that sounds interesting.

Here are some popular time travel anime that fans should watch.

Table of Contents

25. Natsu-iro no Sunadokei (Sandglass of Summer Colors)

This anime is quite old. Really old, like.

But even though its character designs, animations, and general quality haven’t held up over time, it’s still a good show with more time travel than Nobunaga Concerto.

Sandglass of Summer Colors is based on a Princess Soft computer game called a “visual novel” (VN) that came out in 2002.

Also, there are only two episodes because it is an OVA . Still, the show is interesting.

Yes, it’s about a teen boy again. This time, his name is Kotaro Makimura.

But in this case, Kotaro travels through time by waking up in the next school year and then going back and forth to different days of his summer break.

He finds out some very strange things about his girlfriend, Kaho Serizawa, as a result. It gets deep.

24. Buddy Complex

Sunrise launched a mecha game with a lot of action in 2014, but it wasn’t another part of their long-running Gundam series.

It’s called Buddy Complex, and its appealing trio, interesting story, and solid execution set it apart from other games in the same genre.

At the beginning of Buddy Complex, the main character , Aoba Watase, is almost killed by a huge robot from the future.

Hina Yumihara saves him and takes him 70 years into the future so he can learn about beating robots and maybe stop himself from dying.

Can he return to his real past? Or is he stuck in a future where armed forces fight each other?

23. Doraemon

Yes, Doraemon is a time-traveling anime, and it’s a pretty good one.

Some people say that the time travel is just a trick. But I really love what they did with it in the anime.

The story isn’t about someone trying to save a bleak future by going back to the past.

No, it’s about Sewashi Nobi from the 22nd century sending his grandpa Nobita Nobi a cat robot to make his life better, which is great.

Doraemon has shown that this style can be good for kids with 1,700 episodes.

Also, who wouldn’t want a four-dimensional pouch that can pull out different sized gadgets?

22. Punch Line

After Garo: The Animation and Zankyou no Terror, Punch Line was the third original anime made by MAPPA. Zankyou no Terror is one of my all-time faves.

No, I didn’t think Punch Line was at all a modern classic .

It didn’t have the same level of seriousness or ambition as those other shows.

But Punch Line took a creative risk that should be praised and even reevaluated by anime fans.

I know it’s silly, but I don’t care.

How stupid! It has to do with ghosts, nosebleeds, and poop shots.

Also, as a spirit traveling through time, the OP can’t look at underwear. If not, a rock would kill all life on Earth right away. That’s cool.

21. InuYasha

I have another piece from Sunrise Studio to show you.

Before Naruto , Bleach , and Fairy Tail came along, InuYasha was one of the most popular shounen books, and it does have time travel.

The story of Kagome Higurashi takes place in old Japan, hundreds of years ago. The only change is that instead of a general, he meets a man with white hair and dog ears.

Also, it’s not hard for either Kagome or Inuyasha to go between current Japan and feudal Japan.

And I recommend InuYasha because it is one of the best shounen shows ever. Can you go back in time?

20. Irozuku Sekai no Ashita kara (Iroduku: The World in Colors)

Original anime is one of my favorite things. To keep going with a story you’re not sure will work takes a lot of guts.

It isn’t based on a comic, light novel, or video game, so it doesn’t already have fans.

Iroduku: The World in Colors wasn’t just an original anime, though.

It was a visually creative and beautifully drawn show, and it was clear that P.A. Works put a lot of effort into it.

It’s a mix of science fiction, magic , and school drama .

A grandma sends her emotionally distant granddaughter 60 years back in time, but she doesn’t say why.

And now that she’s back in 2018, Hitomi Tsukishiro, a young girl, has a lot to learn about self-discovery and how to connect with other people. Go see it.

19. Charlotte

Look, I get it — Angel Beats was a great anime series.

All of the kids on that show became my favorites in just 13 episodes.

Also, I’m sure that most people will never forget how it ends.

Since then, people have been begging Jun Maeda to do something similar.

So Charlotte joined the competition, but it wasn’t as good as Angel Beats or Clannad .

Still, Charlotte is a school drama with time travel and other skills that has its moments.

Also, this is a new anime, and I think the best parts make up for the story and pacing problems by the end.

18. Natsu no Arashi (Summer Storm!)

It’s interesting that I didn’t see this until last year, even though it came out ten years ago.

But hey, this is a great example of the saying “better late than never” because it is a great mix of time travel and comedy .

Again, Natsu no Arashi is about a young boy who meets a pretty girl.

But Sayoko Arashiyama isn’t like other teenagers at all.

Hajime Yasaka gets a picture of her when she was in her 60s. This means she might not even be a teenager.

What’s happening? And why does Sayoko still look young?

You should look at Natsu no Arashi. Since it was made by Shaft, you can expect it to look good.

17. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (When They Cry)

We’re getting closer to the top spot, so let’s be extra careful. I did say there might be spoilers, so be ready.

When They Cry tricks its viewers into thinking that it is just another generic anime with a guy as the opening theme and a bunch of cute girls .

It turned out to be a murder riddle with a time loop on top of that.

Also, it might be the only anime that is both scary and goes back in time.

One minute, you see a bunch of happy kids playing together. The next thing you know, they’re covered in blood and have angry looks on their faces.

I hate what happened to the anime version here, even though the animation quality and consistency of the movie Orange: Future was much better.

I read the book, and there were parts in it that could have made the anime a classic.

But the anime didn’t live up to or go beyond what was expected.

Orange wasn’t much better than normal. But it is still good enough to be here.

If you liked the anime and how it made you cry and laugh, you might also like the manga, which is much more beautiful and emotional.

15. Kimi no Na wa. (Your Name.)

Yes, this is a very big surprise.

I’m sure you’ve already seen the highly acclaimed movie or read the book with the same name, which broke records all over the world.

People gasped in the middle of the movie because it was about time travel. Kimi no Na wa seems to be about just two people who live in different places… But people didn’t know that they lived in different times as well.

I can still remember how shocked everyone was in the theater, where I saw this movie twice.

There is nothing quite like seeing a Makoto Shinkai movie in a theater, where you can hear and see everything at once. And if you’ve seen Five Centimeters Per Second, you’ll love how it ends.

14. Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei (The Tatami Galaxy)

Devilman Crybaby got great reviews from fans and reviewers all over the world, in part because it was on Netflix .

But I was a big fan of Yuasa’s directing skills even before that.

He is a very skilled man who makes sure that both content and style are way ahead of the rest.

Since it’s about a young man’s life (and love life), there’s a lot going on in The Tatami Galaxy. If you like subtitles like me, you’ll have to read quickly.

See him go through something like Groundhog Day, but in a much more magical and artsy way.

I promise you that it will be a rewarding journey across space, time, and tatami.

13. Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

At this point, I don’t know which of my top choices has a big turning point that involves time travel.

In the second part of this series, there is one episode that makes it go from being a good show to being one of the best anime of all time.

You might not agree that it is a “deconstruction” of the magical girl type. But it’s clear proof that Gen Urobuchi could change the game if he had the right team.

Also, this original anime is stunning to look at.

It’s scary, exciting, and full of ideas.

Shaft had a chance to make a classic, and they didn’t waste it.

12. Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya)

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya was one of Kyoto Animation’s first big hits. In 2006, when the anime community was still small, it took the world by storm.

It was funny, had great characters, a catchy opening song that went viral, and shows that didn’t go in order.

Still, the order of events didn’t make the story any less interesting.

The story’s nonlinear framework gave us a new way to look at how the characters interact with each other. And it made it more fun to watch again in the right order.

You can enjoy The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya after you’ve seen the series (and God bless you if you’ve seen the Endless Eight arc).

If you haven’t heard of Zipang, I don’t blame you.

Even though Zipang came out two years after Naruto, it looks more like something from the past.

The military and historical setting, on the other hand, makes it a good pick.

Simply put, it’s about a Japanese warship called Mirai, which is a missile cruiser. Mirai gets caught in a storm, but it’s not just any storm.

Once Mirai is out of the storm, the crew learns that they have all gone back in time to 1942, which is during the Second World War.

Isn’t that cool?

The most interesting part is that they have to do their best not to change history. But can the team stay in the background when everyone around them is dying?

10. Noein: To Your Other Self

Studio:  Satelight

Episodes:  24

Quick pitch:  In the future, a violent war between two dimensions threatens the existence of space-time. A group called the Dragon Calvary is dispatched to search for the Dragon’s Torque, which is said to be the only thing to stop the war.

9. Mirai Nikki (The Future Diary)

Studio:  Asread

Episodes:  26 + 1 OVA

Quick pitch:  Yukiteru Amano spends his days writing a diary on his cell phone and talking to two imaginary friends, Deus Ex Machina and Murmur.

Deus reveals himself as a god of space and time, and grants Yukiteru a “ Random Diary .” This device shows descriptive future events to Yukiteru and he must use it to survive a deadly battle royale against 11 other people with similar diaries.

8. Thermae Romae

Studio:  DLE

Episodes:  6

Quick pitch:  Lucius is a Roman architect who has trouble coming up with ideas. One day, he discovers a tunnel underneath a spa that leads him to a modern Japanese bath house. Inspired this discovery, he creates a spa based on modern ideas from Japan.

7. Nobunaga Concerto

I’ll start with Nobunaga Concerto, which is an anime about time travel that is also more of an isekai.

Because of this, I’ve put it on my list, but it’s not the best. So what’s going on?

As you might have guessed, it has to do with Oda Nobunaga. Possibly one of the most well-known people in Japanese history.

He was a cruel boss, but he was also smart and a big part of how Japan got back together.

Nobunaga isn’t the OP, though. In Nobunaga Concerto, he meets Saburou, a man from the 21st century who strangely travels back in time to meet him. Saburou looks just like him.

Saburou was just a regular high school student, but now he has to take over for Nobunaga, who wants to take it easy in his last years.

6. Occult Academy

Studio:  A-1 Pictures

Episodes:  13

Quick pitch:  In 2012, the world is invaded by aliens. To stop this from happening, Fumiaki Uchida is sent back to 1999 to prevent the apocalypse from occurring by destroying the Nostradamus Key. In order to find the key, he forms a partnership with Maya Kumashiro, who is a girl with a strong hatred for the occult .

5. Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Studio:  Shaft

Episodes:  12 + 3 (kind of remakes / sequel) movies

Quick pitch:  Madoka Kaname and Sayaka Miki are friends who live normal middle old school lives, but everything changes after they meet a cat-alien named Kyuubey and a transfer student named Homura Akemi.

Kyuubey offers to grant them a wish in exchange of becoming magical girls, but Homura urges the duo to decline or they will enter a world of despair.

4. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Mamoru Hosoda is one of the best anime directors working today, along with Masaaki Yuasa and Makoto Shinkai.

He has also made many other great movies, like Summer Wars, Wolf Children, and The Boy and the Beast, to name just a few.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time works so well because it’s not just a story about time travel.

It thought about how to shape the character and the story as a whole, making the second part more tense and emotional.

Also, I think a lot of us can understand Makoto Shonno. You’re in your last year of high school, and you know that things are about to change, but you don’t know what will happen to you.

It’s scary, funny, and has a heart at its center.

3. Boku dake ga Inai Machi (ERASED)

Putting this so high on my list, am I making a risky choice?

Actually, no.

Sure, not everyone liked how it was changed. I’ll admit that the tension thriller part was a bit too much.

But, like how I feel about Zankyou no Terror, the high points in ERASED are so good that they easily make up for the bad points.

I think it’s a classic, even though it has flaws.

The first episode was a 10/10 because it was easy to keep my attention by the end, when the aspect ratio changed to show how much time had changed. It’s very interesting.

Asian Kung-Fu Generation makes a great opening theme for ERASED, and I still think that Kayo’s birthday scene is one of the most heartbreaking and moving moments in anime.

Also, I don’t like that some people think the show was bad just because the guy didn’t end up with the girl he saved (and tried to save again and again) in the past.

Look, just because you saved someone’s life doesn’t mean you can marry them. You help someone because you should, not because you want something in return.

2. Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World

Re:Zero is a good isekai and time travel show, in my opinion.

After all the talk about Sword Art Online , it could have been like any other isekai. But it made its own mark on the past.

Re:Zero makes you think that the main character is just another guy who goes to a dream world. But the time loop takes the series to a whole new level of fear and hopelessness for Subaru.

It’s not just a way to flee to a better world with waifu characters like Emilia and Rem; the show as a whole is very interesting. I can’t wait for the second season.

1. Steins;Gate

Is there even another show that could be No. 1?

If you ask most anime fans what the best time travel anime is, this is the first show that comes to mind. And with good cause.

Also, Steins;Gate isn’t just praised for being the best time travel show ever.

It’s also in the running for the best anime of all time, usually against FMA: Brotherhood.

Steins;Gate is a great show to watch if you’re new to anime, but it also gets better the more anime you watch.

Some people say it’s overrated, but one thing is for sure: it set the bar for how brilliant and entertaining a time travel anime could be.

Don’t Forget to share it with your fellow otaku’s and bookmark MOW.

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About the Author

Garima Singh

Moshi Moshi everyone! I'm Garima, an anime enthusiast with a passion for sharing my love of anime with others. I've watched over 1000 anime, and I'm always on the lookout for new and exciting shows to watch.

I love everything about anime, from the stories and characters to the animation and music. I'm also a big fan of anime culture, and I love to learn about Japanese culture and history through anime.

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Netflix’s Time Patrol Bon is a sci-fi anime odyssey about the value of human life

The smallest of actions beget the most profound of consequences

by Toussaint Egan

Most time travel stories are either stories of intervention or preservation; following protagonists attempting to either alter the past to correct for something in the future, or doing everything in their power to return to their own time period without drastically altering the past. Time Patrol Bon sits squarely in the middle, which is exactly what makes it a beloved cult classic manga — and a surprisingly prescient adaptation from Netflix.

Based on the manga by Fujiko Fujio, the comic book-writing duo known for creating the beloved Japanese pop culture icon Doraemon , Time Patrol Bon (stylized on Netflix as T.P Bon ) follows Bon Namihira, an ordinary junior school student living in present-day Japan. He inadvertently crosses paths with a time-traveler named Ream from the future and learns of the existence of Time Patrol, a technologically advanced organization that travels through time and space rescuing innocent lives while maintaining the course of history.

It’s only after discovering Bon plays a pivotal role in the history of humanity that they choose not to erase him from history to protect the secret of Time Patrol’s existence; instead they offer him an opportunity to join their cause. Accompanied by Buyoyon, a sassy, ghost-like extra-dimensional creature, Bon joins Ream as her apprentice as they travel across history saving lives while growing into his new responsibilities as a Time Patrol agent.

It’s a fascinating premise, one that naturally begs a question that’s not all that dissimilar from what multiverse stories often broach: What is the value of a single life in the totality of existence? And who, if anyone, should have the authority to decide that? In the case of Time Patrol Bon , that authority is the Time Patrol Research Office, who are dedicated to finding and saving the lives of individuals who will not impact the course of history. In emphasizing the value of good, but otherwise unhistoric people whose lives were cut short on account of tragic accidents, misunderstandings, or overt malice, T.P Bon makes a case for the abiding value of all life in and of itself, as well as the importance of human relationships.

Take the anime’s eighth episode, wherein Bon and Ream are assigned to save one — and only one — kamikaze pilot during the Battle of Okinawa. Torn between his compassion for all human life and his obligation to uphold Time Patrol’s parameters lest he compromise the organization’s mission and very existence, Bon ultimately resolves that saving any life, even if only one life, is a worthwhile and noble endeavor if it can be done. It’s a really profound moment that nails home both Bon maturing into his responsibilities as a member of a Time Patrol, but also the series’ overall humanistic message. To put it another way: Not everything that is faced can be changed, but that’s not an excuse to do nothing. Even the smallest of actions is worth doing if it contributes to lessening the sum of human suffering.

By his own admission, Bon is an average everyday teenager. He doesn’t have any special powers, isn’t especially physically gifted or academically accomplished, and isn’t even all that popular at his school. From a glance, he barely registers as a footnote in the history of humanity, let alone the grand scheme of existence. If someone like Bon can go on to impact the future of humanity, aside from his role as a member of Time Patrol, then anyone can.

It helps that T.P Bon is helmed by respected animator Masahiro Ando, known for his work as a key animator on 1995’s End of Evangelion and Ghost in the Shell , as well as his own 2007 anime film Sword of the Stranger . Such a resume helps the show be all it wants to be: T.P Bon is an excellent blend of whimsical sci-fi spectacle, drama, and occasional edutainment, with stories featuring Bon and Ream rescuing sailors lost at sea, thwarting prehistoric poachers in the Jurassic period, and even inadvertently inspiring the 16th century legend of Journey to the West. In creating a series that strikes the balance between light-hearted adventure and existential meditation, Ando and studio Bones have delivered not only a faithful and worthy adaptation of Fujiko Fujio’s original manga, but one for the ages.

T.P Bon season 1 is available to stream on Netflix.

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Sauron’s Grip On Celebrimbor Loosens In LOTR: Rings Of Power Season 2 Episode 7 Clip

All american season 7 loses 5 cast members as series regulars, 2 new main characters revealed, game of thrones’ ending defended by hodor actor 5 years later: "the signs were there guys".

There are many anime that use time travel as a narrative device. With characters traveling to the past, sending messages into parallel universes, and reliving each day in a loop, these anime explore myriad ways of interacting with and manipulating time.

RELATED:  10 Best Anime On Hulu (Right Now)

While time travel may seem like an overused trope in anime, there are a number of series and movies that have managed to use it effectively. These engrossing stories put a unique spin on time travel without sacrificing good writing, storytelling, and character development.

The Tatami Galaxy Takes A Page From Groundhog Day

Based on a novel by Tomihiko Morimi,  The Tatami Galaxy  is about an unnamed protagonist who reminisces on his life as an upperclassman at a Kyoto university. The story harkens to the classic film  Groundhog Day ,   as the protagonist relives his student years over and over again as a member of different clubs in search of the perfect college experience.

With every new club, the narrator becomes more disillusioned, as each one leaves him more and more disappointed until he decides to give up completely and stay inside his tiny tatami room. The anime combines a unique visual style with a plot that is a thoughtful contemplation on the importance of living in the moment and the dangers of waiting for the perfect opportunity.

Zipang Is A Historical Time Travel Epic

Zipang is a historical war anime based on the manga by Kaiji Kawaguchi. The series is about the crew of the JDS  Mirai , the most advanced destroyer in Japan's fleet. One day, the Mirai gets caught in a strange storm, and upon leaving the anomaly the crew finds they have been transported back o June 1942, right at the start of the Battle of Midway.

Unlike most time travel anime, which involve the protagonists trying to change the past or alter the future, the crew in  Zipang  deliberately try to avoid altering history. Despite their best attempts, the crew of the Mirai ends up getting dragged into the conflict, and the story follows them as they try to resist the totalitarian and militaristic propaganda of the war.

Re: Zero - Starting Life In Another World Is An Isekai Time Travel Story

Adapted from Tappei Nagatsuki's light novel,  Re: Zero - Starting Life in Another World  tells the story of Subaru Natsuki, a socially awkward young man who is suddenly transported to a new world. Upon arriving, he promptly dies and discovers that he can rewind time to a point where he can change the outcome of events for himself and others.

Throughout Re: Zero - Starting Life in Another World , Subaru dies over and over to save his friends and must live with the loneliness that comes when no one remembers his heroics. The series is a thoughtful introspection into the downside of altering the past that features beautiful worldbuilding and compelling characters.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica Is A Unique Magical Girl Anime

Described by some as a deconstruction of the magical girl anime,  Puella Magi Madoka Magica  follows a group of middle school girls led by Madoka Kaname who make magical contracts to battle evil witches. However, the girls soon realize that the role of a magical girl is not all it's cracked up to be.

RELATED:  6 Magical Girl Anime That Need A Live-Action Adaptation (& 4 That Don’t)

Puella Magi Madoka Magica  features complex themes, characters, and narratives including a storyline where one of the magical girls relives each month in an attempt to save Madoka from a grisly fate. The series is emotional and unpredictable, as it explores concepts that most magical girl anime never come close to touching.

Erased Is A Time Traveling Murder Mystery

Based on the manga by Kei Sanbe, Erased  follows Satoru Fujinuma, a young man who possesses the power to rewind time back moments before a life-threatening incident. When Satoru's mother is murdered, he rewinds time back eighteen years and gets the chance to not only save his mother but also some of his childhood friends.

Erased  manages to elements of both time travel and a murder mystery into a compelling narrative. From episode one, the anime pulls in audiences with its beautiful animation, excellent pacing, and deep themes including loneliness, abuse, and courage in the face of fear.

Inuyasha Is A Timeless Classic

Considered by fans to be one of the greatest anime of all time,  Inuyasha  tells the story of Kagome Higurashi, a fifteen-year-old girl from modern Tokyo who is suddenly transported back to the Sengoku period of Japan. It's there she meets Inuyasha, a half-dog, half-human demon and joins him on his journey to recover the shards of the magical Shikon Jewel.

Although it's been over 20 years since it was released,  Inuyasha's iconic storytelling and captivating characters continue to delight both new and old fans. As Kagome and Inuyasha travel back and forth between the past and present, fans are transported on a journey across time and Japan in an epic fantasy adventure of good versus evil.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time Is A Charming Slice-Of-Life Story

Released in 2006,  The Girl Who Leapt Through Time  is a sci-fi romantic film that serves as a loose sequel to Yasutaka Tsutsui's novel of the same name. The story follows Makoto Konno, a teenager who learns she has the power to travel through time, as she attempts to use her powers to make her life and the lives of others better.

RELATED:  10 Best Supernatural Slice-Of-Life Anime Series

At first, Makoto uses her power frivolously to get better grades and avoid uncomfortable situations, but upon discovering that she has a limited number of time leaps, she is forced to make some difficult decisions with her power.  The Girl Who Leapt Through Time  is a charming story that packs a lot of heart and features both excellent animation and voice acting.

Your Name Is A Charming Romantic Fantasy

Directed by Makoto Shinkai,  Your Name  follows a young girl from Itomori named Mitsuha Miyamizu who suddenly begins to intermittently switch bodies with a boy in Tokyo named Taki Tachibana. Over the course of the film, the two discover that they are separated by space and time and work together to try to save the residents of Itomori from being destroyed by a comet.

Your Name  earned favorable reviews from both audiences and critics, with viewers particularly impressed by the film's animation, music, and emotional impact. Mitsuha and Taki's desperate attempts to maintain their memories of each other while they struggle to change the past make for a charming romantic thriller that leaves audiences glued to the edge of their seats.

Orange Tackles Serious Subjects

An adaptation of Ichigo Takano's acclaimed manga,  Orange  follows Naho Takamiya, a young girl who receives a letter written by herself ten years in the future. Together with her friends, Naho attempts to use the information passed on by her future self to prevent the new transfer student, Kakeru Naruse, from taking his own life.

Orange's  plot about sending messages to parallel universes to prevent tragedy   allows it to explore the concept of loss in a unique and compelling way. Fans praise the series for its honest depictions of depression along with its realistic and relatable characters.

Steins;Gate Is A Time Travel Masterpiece

Based on the science-fiction visual novel game by 5pb. and Nitroplus,  Steins;Gate follows Rintaro Okabe, a self-proclaimed "mad scientist" who runs a science laboratory with his friends. When the friends discover that the cell phone-operated microwave oven they invented can send text messages to the past they start down a path that forces them into a conflict with a powerful organization called SERN that is intent on seizing the technology for itself.

Steins;Gate  is a thrilling sci-fi anime adventure full of surprising twists that keep audiences guessing from start to finish. Fans praise its character development and compelling plot, as the series leverages the power and mystery of time travel to its fullest potential to create a unique and intricate narrative.

NEXT:  10 Best Anime About Vampires

The 11 Best Anime That Deals With Time Travel

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Re:Zero: Reasons Subaru Is A Great Protagonist

Tatami galaxy: a bizarre masterpiece, highest rated anime episodes according to imdb, key takeaways.

• Time travel anime can be hit or miss, but when done well with strong narrative and world-building, they can be exceptional to watch.
• Tokyo Revengers offers a different take on shonen stories with a weaker protagonist trying to fix the future, making it a unique watch.
• Steins;Gate is considered one of the greatest anime series for its intricate handling of time travel and diverse genres like romance and drama.

For the longest time, humans have been fascinated with time travel as the ability to travel to the past and future to observe and even influence events can be tempting. Despite that, shows about time travel can sometimes become convoluted and exposition-heavy. However, when executed well and combined with an excellent narrative and interesting world-building, these types of shows can be exceptional to watch.

The world of anime has utilized and explored the use of time travel extensively, with entire genres revolving around being ‘spirited away’ to other realms both real and fantasy. Some of these shows, however, have become instant classics, receiving high praise from avid anime viewers. To help provide some guidance into this particular theme, let's take a look at the best time travel anime of all time.

Updated August 31, 2024, by Mark Sammut: Time travel anime are not extremely common, but they are always a blast when they come around. This article has been expanded with more recommendations and more information about the included anime.

11 Tokyo Revengers

Myanimelist: 7.90 (season 1), tokyo revengers.

Tokyo Revengers follows the journey of Hanagaki Takemichi , a grown man who has nothing going for him. However, Takemichi's life changes when an accident causes him to go back in time. It takes him some time to understand that he actually traveled 12 years back, but eventually, he manages to figure it out. The anime takes a different turn from the usual shonen stories by making the protagonist weaker than the rest of the characters, a decision that can be somewhat divisive since Takemichi does not grow more physically competent as the series progresses. Still, anyone who wants to see a "normal" character trying to fix the future should watch Tokyo Revengers .

Tokyo Revengers: Every Main Character's Age, Height, And Birthday

Tokyo Revengers is an action-packed series with a great cast of characters. Here's every character's age, height, and birthday, and some trivia.

Now, Tokyo Revengers is arguably among the most famous time travel anime , but it is not necessarily among the very best. The anime loses steam after its opening season, with subsequent arcs feeling rather repetitive. Crucially, the time travel element is not particularly interesting or deeply explored; in fact, it is mostly just used to set up the next arc.

10 The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

Myanimelist: 7.23 (season 2, endless eight arc), the melancholy of haruhi suzumiya.

What happens when an unassuming high school girl is a god and can create anything she imagines or sets her mind to? Say hello to Haruhi Suzumiya, a 15-year-old girl with powers that can alter the fabric of time and space who is blissfully unaware of her abilities. The show focuses on Haruhi and Kyon who are part of their school's SOS Brigade, an after-school club that is focused on paranormal and abnormal phenomena. The club also keeps tabs on Haruhi as her abilities could warp, alter, and destroy the world and each misadventure brings the characters and viewers closer to understanding what Haruhi is.

OK, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is a bit of a weird case since time travel is not explained that concretely in the anime, and it is mostly just mentioned and part of the overall lore. Just to be clear, it is important to the universe and story; however, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya rarely feels like a time travel anime . The only exception is the Endless Eight arc, which locks the main characters in a time loop that only Kyon recognizes. While experimental and ambitious, this saga tends to be extremely divisive, to the point of arguably ruining the show's momentum.

MyAnimeList: 7.87

Inuyasha (2000).

Inuyasha is a popular anime series that is based on the work of Rumiko Takahashi. Inuyasha covers the journey of Kagome Higurashi. When she falls into the well at her family shrine, Kagome finds herself in the Sengoku period. She eventually meets Inuyasha and travels with him all over Japan to regain all the pieces of a shattered jewel.

Inuyasha is much more adventurous in comparison to the other time travel anime . It also has a good amount of action and romance, which is enough to keep viewers glued to their screens. Another great thing about the anime is the fact that it has over 100 episodes, making it a great series for fans who like long shows.

8 The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Myanimelist: 8.10, the girl who leapt through time (2006).

Mamoru Hosoda’s classic 2006 sci-fi romance movie tells the story of a high school girl, Makoto, who learns how to time travel and uses it to her benefit. However, with great power comes great responsibility, a rule that Makoto doesn’t adhere to, which leads to some complicated and devastating outcomes. Despite a plot that may appear too "straightforward" at a glance, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is an engaging and thought-provoking coming-of-age drama with moments of a slice of life that audiences can relate to.

Makoto is not only charming but also relatable, and she mostly uses her newfound power to do stuff that most teenagers would do. Eventually, the movie's relaxing and lighthearted tone takes a turn for the dramatic, largely thanks to the introduction of a secondary character.

7 Your Name

Myanimelist: 8.83, your name (2016).

Your Name tells the story of a Tokyo boy, Taki, and a country girl, Mitsuha, who periodically swap bodies. Through this, they manage to help each other out in different aspects of their lives. However, as they deepen their bond and try to figure out the phenomenon, the swapping stops abruptly, prompting Taki to uncover the reason why. The time travel twist does not reveal itself until about halfway through; consequently, while a major part of the story and arguably one of the best moments of the movie, this element is not immediately apparent.

Beautifully animated and supported by the awesome J-pop soundtrack of Radwimps, Your Name will tug on anyone’s heartstrings and make them root for the characters. Ever since its release, Your Name has become established as one of the greatest anime movies of all time, and that seems unlikely to change anytime soon.

MyAnimeList: 8.23 (Season 1)

Re:zero -starting life in another world-.

Part of the Isekai genre, Re:Zero focuses on Subaru Natsuki who is transported to a fantasy world. The time travel aspect comes into play every time Subaru dies since he resurrects at the last checkpoint similar to video games, prompting him to figure his way through until reaching the next checkpoint. Over time, the psychological ordeal of watching his friends and himself die only to be resurrected begins to take on toll on his psyche, creating a very interesting if not disturbing fantasy narrative .

Re:Zero's Subaru is quite different from many isekai anime protagonists, but he's also one of the best. Here's why.

Beyond his resurrection ability, Subaru is pretty ordinary and weak, which means he has to use his knowledge of events to try and get an upper hand in situations that are generally well beyond his capabilities. Re:Zero has plenty of strengths and positives, but one of its greatest achievements is its exploration of Subaru's psyche.

MyAnimeList: 8.30

Erased (2016).

A psychological murder thriller with elements of time travel set in Tokyo and Hokkaido. Erased follows Saturo who experiences a phenomenon known as ‘revivals’ that sends him back in time moments before a catastrophic incident occurs to prevent it from happening. When his mother is murdered, the event causes him to travel back in time 18 years into the past, allowing him to not only save his mother but the lives of his former classmates whose tragic ends mirror that of his mother.

A gripping thriller that will glue any viewer to their seat, Erased is a must-see for anyone interested in crime thrillers and the mystery genre . The anime notoriously ends on a polarizing note that can retroactively hurt the rest of the show; nevertheless, it is still worth watching.

4 Link Click

Myanimelist: 8.73.

Link Click is a Chinese donghua rather than a Japanese anime. Despite its origins, the show deserves to be highlighted since it is extremely good.

Link Click presents a fantastic twist on the time travel concept, all wrapped up in an intense murder mystery that rarely loses steam. Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang have a unique business where they (essentially) deliver closure to clients. Accomplishing this task requires a photograph, which allows Cheng Xiaoshi to travel back in time to when it was taken. At this point, his goal is usually to just gather information while he inhabits the photographer's body, and he should try to avoid changing anything. Obviously, that is not always possible, which can have dire consequences for the future.

Link Click is an entertaining watch from start to finish, and it is held together by two great protagonists who complement each other beautifully. Initially, the anime seems to follow a case-of-the-week structure, but eventually things begin to tie together to create a fascinating whole.

3 The Tatami Galaxy

Myanimelist: 8.56, the tatami galaxy.

A thought-provoking masterpiece that blends drama and comedy well, The Tatami Galaxy follows a college student who regrets how he spent the last two years of his life. After an encounter with a girl, he finds himself restarting college life from scratch, visiting different timelines depending on which circle/club he decides to join. Each episode focuses on a different reality, showcasing the protagonist's trials and failures as he constantly fails to build the life he believes he is owed.

There are a lot of anime about antisocial loners, but The Tatami Galaxy is like nothing you've ever seen.

The Tatami Galaxy is an absolute trip in the best possible way. With clever writing, relatable characters, and a well-defined visual identity, this show deserves to be tracked down by anyone remotely interested in anime, regardless of their fondness for time travel.

The Tatami Time Machine Blues is also great.

2 Summer Time Rendering

Myanimelist: 8.48, summer time rendering.

Summer Time Rendering is a story about Shinpei Ajiro, who loses both of his parents. Instead of becoming a recluse, he grows up with Ushio and Mio. The three become very close before Shinpei Ajiro eventually leaves for Tokyo. After a few years, he returns to his hometown to attend the funeral of Ushio. However, he refuses to believe that Ushio died normally and eventually comes to learn about his power which allows him to reset time.

Summer Time Rendering adds a unique twist to the regular time travel tropes. A solid combination of mystery and sci-fi, the anime is an absolute rollercoaster with barely anything resembling a dull moment, and most of its early episodes end on huge twists that always feel earned. Eventually, the anime transitions into more of a battle shonen, and it nails that part as well.

1 Steins;Gate

Myanimelist: 9.07, steins;gate (2011).

Considered one of the greatest anime series out there, Steins;Gate revolves around Rintaro Okabe, a self-declared mad scientist who manages to create a time machine. Meanwhile, SERN, an organization that is also researching time travel learns of the machine and steals it, killing one of Rintaro’s friends in the process. This causes Rintaro to go back in time to prevent his friend’s death unleashing a cascade of time travel problems.

Those who have watched Steins;Gate praise the show for its intricate handling of time travel and the rules the show establishes. The show will appeal to anyone who enjoys romance, comedy, drama, and hard science fiction genres.

The following anime episodes have the highest ratings on IMDb, with some of them reaching near-perfect scores.

Best Time Travel Anime: Link Click, Tokyo Revengers & More

By Douglas Mychal

Time travel has always been an exciting topic, as the thought of going back and rewriting the past appeals to everyone. While time travel is still uncharted territory, in reality, the same can’t be said in anime. Time travel anime is one of the most thought-provoking and interesting genres of anime. While the notion of going back in time to fix a mistake isn’t as straightforward as it sounds, these anime show that a simple change could even unravel millions of lives. With that said, here are some of the best time travel anime.

This popular anime is the perfect start for people new to the genre of Time Travel anime. It follows the life of 29-year-old Satoru Fujinuma, who has the ability to reverse time by a few seconds. However, this bizarre ability gives him little control as he is forcibly thrust back before an accident occurs, giving him the chance to fix it. After his mother is murdered, he is thrust 18 years into the past to try and save his mother. He will also have the chance to save his three friends from a serial killer. 

Although Donghua’s don’t get much praise, Link Click has changed that perspective with its riveting story. It follows the lives of Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang, who operate a Time Photo Studio business. They travel back in time through pictures to fulfill clients’ requests while keeping the timeline manageable. The anime perfectly explains the butterfly effect and how one change could cause a ripple effect. It is an exciting Time Travel anime for veterans and new fans of the genre.

Tokyo Revengers

The popular anime was praised by many as the best anime of 2021. It follows the story of Takemichi Hanagaki, a grown man with little going on in his life. However, his world is flipped upside down after he learns of his girlfriend’s death at the hands of a gang. Takemichi is able to go back 12 years into the past, back to when he was in middle school. However, Takemichi’s plans to infiltrate the gang and stop Hinata’s death aren’t as easy as he hoped. The anime perfectly explains the limitations of time travel and the fortitude required to accomplish such a goal.

SummerTime Rendering

This anime takes everything you know about time travel, rips it up, and pieces it back together uniquely. After the death of his parents, Shinpei Ajiro lives in Tokyo, where he lived alone for several years. He returns to his home on Hitogashima Island to attend the funeral of his longtime friend and crush, Ushio. After discovering strangle marks on Ushio’s neck, Shinpei believes there is more to the story. He also discovers his bizarre time loop ability, which brings him back after his death. Now aided by her ghost and little sister, Shinpei must discover the town’s dark secrets.

Subaru is reincarnated into a fantasy world after dying pathetically in front of a convenience store. A few hours after his arrival, he is killed trying to help Emilia. However, he returns just a few hours before they meet. After some gruesome encounters that cause him to die multiple times, he gets the hang of his new abilities. After saving Emilia, the latter rewards him by making him a butler at her mansion. He falls in love with her and pledges to use his newfound ability to keep her and her friends safe. Rezero is the perfect anime for fans looking for a complex story to dive into. 

Steins Gate

Steins Gate is one of the most popular anime in the world and the pioneer of time travel anime. Rintaro Okabe is a mad scientist who runs the Future Gadget Laboratory with his friends Mayuri and Hashida. Rintaro discovers a dead body at the time travel conference and learns that his team’s latest invention, the phone microwave, can send texts back to the past, leading to a plethora of unfortunate yet riveting events. Steins Gate explores the entirety of time travel, explaining how one fix could ruin the rest of the world.

As a huge fan of Anime, Douglas is someone who is committed to writing content that is sure to get the anime community talking. When not writing, you can catch him reading fantasy books, or his favourite manhwa.

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7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy!

Puella magi madoka magica, the 15 best time loop anime, ranked by fans.

Vote for your favorite anime about time loops.

Time loops are a fascinating concept that has captivated audiences in various forms of media, and anime is no exception. The best anime about time loops feature intricate plots, compelling characters, and mind-bending scenarios that keep viewers on the edge of their seats. These stories highlight themes of fate, consequence, and the human condition as characters relive moments over and over again in an attempt to change their destinies or uncover hidden truths.

These anime don't just explore time travel - they spotlight the way going back and forth between time can change one's journey. In Erased , jumping between the past and present is used in an attempt to stop tragedy. Re:Zero brings the time loop elements to the isekai genre to make explore them in a fun way. 7th Time Loop does the same - but adds in aspects of romance and villainess elements to enhance its story.

The significance of these traits lies in their ability to create suspenseful narratives that challenge both the characters and the audience. Time loop anime often push protagonists to their limits, forcing them to confront difficult choices and unforeseen consequences repeatedly. This genre's unique storytelling method offers a fresh perspective on familiar tropes while keeping viewers engaged with its unpredictable twists. Vote for your favorite time loop anime to help shape this list!

• Summer Time Rendering

Summertime Rendering

Why It's Great:

This series effectively uses time loops to drive its mystery and suspense, as the protagonist works to uncover and thwart a menacing threat. Each loop provides new clues and heightens the tension, making the unraveling plot more engaging.

Steins;Gate

Steins;Gate masterfully intertwines sci-fi thrills with emotional depth, utilizing time loops to explore complex themes of causality and sacrifice. Each loop uncovers new dimensions of the story, keeping viewers engaged and invested.

The Spring 2024 season presented fans with 7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy! - a fun anime that mixes romance and time looping elements. The series also incorporates the isekai genre and royalty themes, making it an anime you won't find anywhere else.

• Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World

Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World

The beloved 2016 anime Re:Zero shines because it displays how protagonist Subaru navigates his new life in a different setting. The time loop aspect adds another enjoyable element to the series as fans get to watch how Suburu learns and grows from his own mistakes and shortcomings.

Erased leverages its time-traveling protagonist to create a tense, emotionally resonant thriller that tackles themes of regret and redemption. The time loop is essential for unraveling the mystery, making each moment impactful.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica isn't your average magical girl anime. This series uses time loops to enhance its surprisingly dark, psychological narrative, revealing the tragic consequences of its magical girl system. The repeated loops contribute to an intense, layered story that subverts genre expectations.

Tokyo Revengers

Tokyo Revengers uses its time loop premise to let the protagonist alter past events in hopes of changing the future, adding layers of suspense and emotional depth. Each time jump provides new insights into the series's characters, keeping the viewer engaged.

• Higurashi When They Cry

Higurashi: When They Cry

Higurashi: When They Cry employs time loops to create a chilling atmosphere, where each cycle unveils more about the village's haunting mysteries. The repetition serves to deepen the psychological horror, making the unraveling plot all the more gripping.

The Tatami Galaxy

The Tatami Galaxy cleverly uses time loops to reflect on the protagonist's adventures of college life and the search for self-fulfillment. The looping narrative structure amplifies the protagonist's journey of self-discovery, making it both thoughtful and quirky.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time offers a heartfelt take on time loops through its teenage protagonist's impulsive time jumps, highlighting the emotional and relational consequences of altering events. Each leap deepens the story's exploration of growing up and personal responsibility.

Sagrada Reset

• David Production

Sagrada Reset integrates time loops into its narrative to methodically explore the intersections of memory, perception, and reality. The use of this theme allows for intricate plot developments and philosophical musings that keep the story intellectually stimulating.

In a town where everyone has a unique superpower, two high school students work together to prevent rewrite tragedies by using their abilities to reset time and retain memories.

In Search of the Lost Future

In Search of the Lost Future uses time loops to slowly unravel an engaging story of love, regret, and overcoming past mistakes. The repetition provides a deeper emotional context and gradually reveals significant character backstory.

A high school astronomy club becomes entwined in a mysterious series of events involving time travel and parallel worlds after encountering a mysterious girl.

Revue Starlight

• Kinema Citrus

Revue Starlight leverages time loops to depict the trials and growth of aspiring performers, blending theatrical elements with the nature of competition. The loops add layers to character dynamics and the overarching narrative of ambition and friendship.

A group of aspiring actresses competes in a series of magical, theatrical auditions to achieve stardom and fulfill their dreams on stage.

Mekakucity Actors

Mekakucity Actors incorporates time loops to piece together a fragmented narrative, exploring the intertwining lives and unique abilities of its characters. The looping structure adds complexity and intrigue, making the story's resolution more compelling.

Day Break Illusion

Day Break Illusion uses its time loop structure to delve into the repercussions of battling dark forces, giving a fresh perspective on the magical girl genre . The series uses these time loops to enhance thematic exploration and add depth to the characters' internal struggles.

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9 best time travel anime.

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Key Takeaways

• Time travel in storytelling requires attention to detail and tying together diverted paths can be difficult indeed.
• The choices characters make, regardless of size, can have massive consequences, making time travel stories engaging rollercoasters.
• Time travel can serve as a bittersweet method of communication, enhancing themes of actions, consequences, and personal growth.

Whether it's a mere five minutes or an entire decade, time travel is one of the most compelling yet complicated devices in storytelling. What makes it complicated is the attention to detail required: one story must already be established in order for diverted paths to take place, and tying them together effectively can be very difficult indeed.

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The choices that characters make, regardless of how small or big they perceive them to be, can have massive consequences. More often than not, the audience discovers the stakes of these choices along with the characters themselves. Therefore, a time travel story can become quite the rollercoaster, with a sometimes unpredictable track. Here are some of the best anime for fans of the fascinating concept of time travel.

9 Irodoku: The World in Colors

Despite coming from a long line of witches, Hitomi Tsukishiro has a rather strained relationship with witchcraft. Unable to truly master her her potent magic , she loses her ability to connect with the world around her in a literal sense. She can no longer see colors. Her grandmother hopes to reconnect her with her roots by sending her back in time to meet a younger version of the guardian.

Irodoku is a story of true connection with the world and, in a way, with one’s heritage. It speaks earnestly to the challenges one faces when it comes to mental health, and presents hope as an answer through the lens of Hitomi’s grandmother’s past.

People are not the ones to travel through time here: letters do instead. Naho Takamiya finds a letter addressed to her, soon discovering that it is from her future self. Future Naho gives herself glimpses of the future and shares regrets she had during high school. In doing so, she hopes to convince Present Naho to make different, bolder decisions that could just save someone they both care for dearly.

Orange is, in a way, a melancholy ode to those who sit on the sidelines of their own lives. It is also a reminder that reaching out may seem small and insignificant to some, but it can mean the world to others. Time travel is a bittersweet method of communication in this story that only serves to enhance these messages as the show progresses.

7 The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Hit the brakes and check out this early 2000s anime movie classic . Based on a novel by the same name, the story follows Makoto Konno as she is suddenly granted the ability to leap through time. Makoto starts to use these leaps to her own advantage, often for selfish reasons. However, she only has so many she can use, and some decisions lead to terrible consequences.

It's expected that a teenager like Makoto may make a few silly, albeit selfish, decisions when discovering a new power like time travel. The story becomes even more compelling when she becomes aware of this and tries to remedy some of the decisions she’s made. In doing so, this movie truly broaches the subject of actions and consequences, on both a small and large scale.

6 The Tatami Galaxy

Take a trip that starts with something quite familiar to the college-age demographic: ramen. A third-year college student finds himself at a mysterious ramen stand, where he reflects on his lonely years thus far. Jealous of the surrounding couples, he secretly harbors the regret of not trying harder to be in a relationship like his peers. He is then thrown back into the beginning of his college years once more, for another chance to do just that.

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This show is a journey and a half for anyone not used to a more surrealist animation style. Yet, all-in-all, it is a story about a young man trying to find his place among his peers. It speaks honestly to the reality that sometimes life is a series of repetitive situations and different choices.

5 Tokyo Revengers

It’s a jarring reality to go from having it all to losing something dear and cherished. Takemichi Hanagaki used to have a more joyful life, supported by friends and his girlfriend. As time progresses, though, he loses his footing in the world and his ex-girlfriend. It isn’t until he finds himself gifted with the ability to alter time that he decides to use this ability to save the girl he once loved.

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Based on the manga of the same name by Ken Wakui, the world of Tokyo Revengers is brutal and precise, especially with what Takemichi is attempting to achieve. He is also an underdog character, as he is not strong right from the get-go. Rather, he grows from his experiences and keeps to his wits as much as he can to achieve his desired outcome.

4 Your Name

Small-town-girl-meets-city-boy is taken to an entirely different level when it comes to this CoMix Wave film. While Mitsuha Miyamizu lives her life in the rural village of Itomori, Japan, Taki Tachibana lives his life in the bustling city of Tokyo. Both begin to have strange "dreams" where they swap lives without knowing it, until suddenly, they realize they are actually swapping bodies.

Winning three awards both for its stunning animation and its compelling story, Your Name is a tragic yet beautiful story worth falling into . The movie uses tension and suspense through the narrative of time, showing its audience slices of its protagonists’ lives.

When accused of murdering someone near and dear to him, Satoru Fujinuma turns to the past in order to clear his name. His ability, called Revival, allows him to travel into the past and alter events about to happen. While at one point he traveled mere minutes prior to an event, this time he is sent back to when he was just a child in order to solve the murder of one of his classmates.

Erased wraps a mystery within a time travel blanket that does nothing but enhance the suspense of its story. Time seems almost autonomous in the show, as it serves as a guide for Satoru while he decides to make the ultimate decisions. In a sense, he is not in it alone either, because he finds support in the most convenient of places: home.

2 Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World

Just in the blink of an eye, Subaru Natsuki is transported to a fantasy realm called the Kingdom of Lugunica. Initially, he is more than excited to escape the mundanity of his regular life. Soon enough, though, he discovers that there are still challenges around the bend that he must face. Luckily, he has an ability that no one around him realizes: the ability to return to a specific point in time after "dying."

The story of Subaru takes some unexpected turns that lead him down a much darker road than he ever anticipated. Yet, part of what makes Re:Zero such a successful story is its protagonists’ slow growth over time. Each "death" is an opportunity for Subaru to truly take in his surroundings and learn to make conscious decisions. Additionally, the show is certainly dedicated to its small details and world-building. This only enhances the viewing experience for the audience.

1 Steins;Gate

Every great scientific discovery starts with something simple, right? For Rintarou Okabe and his team, that beginning comes in the form of a microwave. However, after attending a conference on time travel, Rintarou starts to see their invention in a new light. This discovery leads him into dangerous territory that not only puts his team at risk, but also his mind.

This anime is a roller coaster that makes its audience question what’s real and what isn’t. Humor turns into horror, and that horror leads into the core questions that Steins;Gate asks: What is the cost of time travel? What do we truly have control over when it comes to some of life’s most haunting consequences?

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Members Score Newest Title

Nijiiro Hotaru: Eien no Natsuyasumi

Rainbow fireflies.

Yuuta was 12-year-old boy, who had lost his father in the traffic accident one year ago. In the summer vacation, he visited a deserted dam deep in the mountains, where he had a good time with his father before. Suddenly a thunder storm occurred and he slipped on the ground. He lost consciousness and woke up to find a girl and an unfamiliar village. He time-traveled 30 years and reached a village, which sank at the bottom of the dam. This is Yuuta's precious memory of "another" summer vacation.

Magic Tree House

Based on The Magic Tree House series, award winning series of children books written by American author Mary Pope Osborne.

An ordinary high school student named Bon becomes part of a team of time-traveling agents tasked with saving people's lives during historical events that happen across different eras and locations around the globe. (Source: Netflix)

Shiguang Dailiren Special: Xiaoyao Sanren de Weituo

Link click: troubles of ordinary people.

Chibi-style special episode of Shiguang Dailiren.

Doraemon Movie 36: Shin Nobita no Nippon Tanjou

Doraemon the movie: nobita and the birth of japan 2016.

Doraemon and friends run away from their home and travel back in time to the 70,000 years ago where nobody existed to build their ideal private paradise. After they fully relished the freedom in the era, Doraemon and friends bid farewell to their paradise and come back to the present day. However, a few days after they came back home, Doraemon and friends bump into a caveman called "Kukul" in the current era. They find out that the caveman Kukul was accidentally transported forward to the present, and that his tribe called Hikari tribe was attacked and abducted by Giga Zombie and Kurayami tribe after Doraemon and friends left the primitive age. Doraemon and friends decide to go back to the primitive age to save Hikari tribe from the villain. They dive into a grand adventure during their first and the furthest runaway. (Source: Toho)

Lupin III: Kiri no Elusive

Lupin iii: elusiveness of the fog.

On the ocean floor, Lupin is once again seeking a treasure hoping to get on Fujiko's good side. As Zenigata chases them on sea and land, people around the gang begin to vanish mysteriously. The fog rolls in and Mamo Kyosuke appears in a burst of light; he claims to be from the future and seeks revenge on Lupin III for what Lupin XIII has done to him. Mamo hurls Lupin, Jigen, Goemon, and Zenigata 500 years into the past; as two warring factions fight over a legendary shrine dedicated to time travel, Lupin must find a way to survive the past to ensure his future. (Source: Lupin III Encyclopedia) This movie is a remake of episode 13 in the original Lupin III series.

Fire Tripper

On a day like any other, Suzuko meets one of her neighbor's children, Shu, in a park on her way back from school and decides to walk home with him. Tragically, they never make it home. Suzuko and the young boy are caught in a giant gas explosion, though instead of dying instantly, Suzuko wakes up in the middle of a battlefield full of corpses in the Sengoku period. A group of marauding bandits attacks Suzuko, but Shukumaru—a boy who had come to loot the corpses to feed his starving village—saves her. Though they both return to the village, Suzuko refuses to give up searching for Shu and returns to the battlefield every day with Shukumaru trailing behind. Though Shukumaru lacks anything resembling modern manners, she gradually finds herself drawn towards him. Just what fate awaits this young girl in this bloody period in Japan's history? [Written by MAL Rewrite]

Harukanaru Toki no Naka de: Maihitoyo

One rainy day, Akane crosses path with a kind young man who tacitly offers to her his coat. On their second encounter, he confesses that he has no recollection of who he is, his name or his past, but feels contented by just being with her. Besotted, Akane sets out to find his name, and to unravel his enigmatic connection with a famous cursed dance rumoured to kill anyone who attempts to perform it. (Source: ANN)

Doraemon Movie 10: Nobita no Nippon Tanjou

Doraemon the movie: nobita and the birth of japan.

Nobita wants to run away from home, again. He finds out that there is nowhere for him to go. All the land is owned by someone. His friends end up wanting to run away also, even Doraemon. They figure out that the only way to find land that isn't owned by anyone is to go back in time to when no humans existed. They end up helping a prehistoric boy rescue his tribe from Gigazombie.

Doraemon Movie 16: Nobita no Sousei Nikki

Doraemon the movie: nobita's diary of the creation of the world.

Nobita had to find a topic for his summer break research homework. As he was blaming everything to Adam and Eve for sinning and causing their descendants to suffer (from homework), Doraemon decided to provide him with a gadget to observe the creation of the world so that he may write it in a diary-like report. Suneo, Giant and Shizuka eventually joined them and together they watch over the birth of tribes and civilizations. Meanwhile, the time patrol is looking for an illegal time machine whose controllers accidentally heard Giant speaking of the genesis diary project. They captured Giant and Suneo; leaving Nobita, Shizuka and Doraemon to watch over the genesis set and to rescue them. (Source: ANN)

Soujuu Senshi Psychic Wars

Psychic wars.

Ukyo Rettsu, a surgeon, treats a mysterous old woman for a mysterious "cancer." The growth turns out to be a messenger from the ancient past of Japan heralding a demonic invasion of the Earth. Ukyo must go back in time and fight the race of ancient demons. (Source: AniDB)

Kono Yo no Hate de Koi wo Utau Shoujo YU-NO Recap

Recap of the first half of Kono Yo no Hate de Koi wo Utau Shoujo YU-NO series.

Meiji Tokyo Renka Movie 2: Hanakagami no Fantasia

Sequel to Meiji Tokyo Renka: Yumihari no Serenade, which follows Mei Ayazuki as she travels back in time and falls in love with historical figures.

Toki no Tabibito: Time Stranger

Based on the novel trilogy of the same name by MAYUMURA Taku (眉村 卓), Time Stranger is the story of a bunch of teenagers getting transported back in time through Japan's history, and getting mixed up with samurai shenanigans.

Thermae Romae Specials

Thermae romae.

Bonus episodes included with the BD/DVD. The first episode consists of "Miwaku no Farosu" (Alluring Pharos) and "Sanshimai OL Terumae Satsujin Jiken" (The Three Sisters of Thermae Romae Murder Case). The second episode consists of "Subesube ni Naritai" (I Want to Have Smooth Skin) and "Hitasura Suberitai" (I Just Want to Slip).

Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3: Kurenai no Tsuki

Another 100 years has passed since the end the end of Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 2 (200 years after the original anime). In the past that is, very little time has gone by in the future. One day, Kasuga Nozomi encounters a strange boy at her high school, who sends her across time and space to Kyou, a place in another world that bears a strong resemblance to Kyoto towards the end of the Heian period. There, the Minamoto clan ("Genji"), led by Minamoto no Yoritomo, is at war with the Taira clan ("Heike"), led by Taira no Kiyomori. The Heike hope to defeat the Genji by releasing vengeful spirits to disturb the earth`s natural flow of energy and to terrorize the land. The boy is revealed to be the human form of Hakuryuu, the White Dragon God that protects Kyou, who is weakened by the presence of the vengeful spirits. As the Hakuryuu no Miko (Priestess of the White Dragon God), Nozomi allies herself with the Genji because Hakuryuu cannot send her home until his power is restored... (Source: AniDB)

Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 2: Shiroki Ryuu no Miko

Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 2 takes place 100 years after the original Harukanaru Toki no Naka de story. In the past that is, very little time has gone by in the future. Kyou, which resembles Kyoto in the Heian period, is in turmoil because of a power struggle going on between the emperor and the retired emperor, and the people of Kyou are falling into desperation, fearing the coming of the end of the world. Karin was walking with her friends when suddenly she is brought by the White Dragon to the land of Kyou. She was chosen as the new priestess of the White Dragon and she must fight against the evil with the help of her guardians while meantime, she keeps having visions of a mysterious man...

Are You OK?

The current government is seeking outsiders and granting them positions according to their abilities in order to update their backwards country and create a new world! Zuo Yunqi is just an ordinary young master, but to save his father, he disguises himself as an outsider to join the government. Unfortunately, his disguise is broken by a man hired specifically to identify who's a real outsider and who isn't. In their battle of wits, the two of them end up in many comedic situations and eventually become allies. As the two of them stop a shocking conspiracy, they discover that some of the outsiders have formed their own alliance to revolt against those in power and create a new society of peace and equality. Zuo Yunqi and his friends are forced to join in and become a part of this battle... (Source: Baidu)

Buddy Complex: Daremo Shiranai Ashita e

A summary of the Buddy Complex series told from the point of view of Nasu Mayuka.

Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3: Owarinaki Unmei

The war between the Heike clan and the Genji clan continues. This time, Nozomi has to fight a powerful supernatural enemy and make a choice: protect her friends and stay by Kurou's side, or choose her first love, Masaomi, which is the leader of the Heike, and her enemy.

Precure Miracle Leap Movie: Minna to no Fushigi na Ichinichi

The story begins when the protagonist Hikaru meets aliens Lala, Prunce, and Fuwa while watching the night sky. She learns of the "Star Palace," where the 12 Star Princesses of the constellations kept the balance of the universe until they were attacked. Lala is searching for the legendary Precure warriors to help find the 12 scattered "Princess Star Color Pens" and revive the princesses. When Fuwa is captured by an enemy, Hikaru wishes to save Fuwa, and a Star Color Pendent and a Star Color Pen appear to allow her to transform into Cure Star. From then on she works to collect the pens and raise Fuwa, who is the key to reviving the princesses.

God Mazinger

In the ancient, legendary past, the peaceful kingdom of Mu is under siege by the war-like Dragonian Empire. With a woeful amount of fire power and only a giant statue of a deity to watch over them, the young Queen Aira and her people are no match for the Dorado, the Golden King,and his army of dinosaurs. But Aira reaches out to someone who can save them, a warrior from another time and place. That person happens to be Yamato Hino, an average though highly athletic high school boy in modern-day Tokyo. At first Yamato think she’s going crazy when he gets messages from a spectral young woman, but she eventually convinces him to take the plunge… through a mystical portal to ancient Mu. Before the Tokyo teen can get acclimated, Dragonia attacks again, but this time, the dinosaurs and soldiers are repulsed by the giant God Mazinger, now merged with Yamato. Though Mu has achieved it's first victory, they have along way to go, as does Yamato, who will need to over come his own deep character flaws and become a true warrior to save the kingdom and get back home. (Source: Discotek)

Harukanaru Toki no Naka de: Hachiyou Shou Specials

Short clips about what happens after the TV series.

Emblem Take 2

Shinjuku, 1983. A member of the Kaeda Yakuza gang, Akutsu Jouji, has lost in a brawl with a university cheering squad, and begs for forgiveness through bitter tears. Since then, nothing has gone well in Jouji's life, until 10 years later in 1993, his friend was ordered to kill him, and as he ran away he killed himself, ending his miserable life. But when Jouji opened his eyes, he was in Shinjuku in 1983, at the fight with the university students that caused things to go wrong. Now with ten more years of memories and experience, Jouji repels the university students with spirit and wisdom. Now he swears to wear a gold emblem around town, and begins his life anew. (Source: Hokuto no Gun)

Harukanaru Toki no Naka de: Hachiyou Shou OVA

A funny side side story of the series.

T.P BON Season 2

Second season of T.P BON.

Four billion years ago, in the Andromeda Nebula, an ambitious project was launched. An ancient race of aliens, seeing that there was no other intelligent life in the Universe, set their massive supercomputers the task of seeding more races that could grow to sentience. The project was known as the Omega Program. The human race was the result of this project. However, humans were not the only races to grow from the Omega Program, and lurking in the future is the deadliest threat the human race has ever faced. In time, the products of this Program are destined to clash in violent opposition. Hopelessly outnumbered by the technologically superior enemy, Earth has one last hope—the secret fail-safe of the Omega Program—the Delta Boy, living avatar of the supercomputer that began life on Earth. His only problem is staying alive long enough to save his future—and that of all humanity...

Time-traveling lovers Katsumi and Sakura find themselves in the midst of Japan's medieval civil war between the Heike and Genji clans. (Source: AniDB)

Tondera House no Daibouken

The flying house.

The series began in the middle of a game of hide and seek, as a young boy named Justin Casey (Gen) finishes counting and begins searching for his friends Angela (usually called "Angie") and Corkey Roberts (Kanna and Tsukubo Natsuyama). As he searched for the brother and sister in the wooded area, a storm occurred all of a sudden. Justin managed to sneak up on the two before the rain started pouring, forcing them to run for cover. They would eventually find a house in the wooded area, previously unseen according to Justin. At first glance it appeared nobody was home after entering the house, until they discovered a robot named Solar Ion Robot (Kadenchin), or the acronym SIR. They would soon meet the owner of the house, Professor Humphrey Bumble (Dr. Tokio Taimu), who introduced the children to his greatest creation, a time machine. Professor Bumble's attempt at recreating Benjamin Franklin's famous lightning experiment with the use of a kite flying outside the house to get the machine working only led up to SIR's temporary change in personality before sending the entire house on course for the past. The children never realized how long the journey back home would be due to Professor Bumble's misguidance and errors in time travel, but in the meantime they witnessed and participated (with little or no consequences) in numerous events in the Bible's New Testament, from John the Baptist's birth to the rise of the Apostle Paul." (Source: Wikipedia)

Tsuki wa Higashi ni Hi wa Nishi ni: Operation Sanctuary OVA

Naoki Kazumi's parents died in an accident and since he had nowhere to go, he now is living with his cousin Matsuri Shibugaki. One day up on the school's rooftop a girl falls out from the sky. The girl is called Mikoto Amagasaki, and she comes from 100 years in the future, she went back in time with hope to eventually find her missing brother. However , when Mikoto sees Naoki, she end up mistaking him for her brother. (Source: Wikipedia)

Futatsu no Kurumi

Futatsu no Kurumi is a short story following 12-year-old Ayaka as she is teleported back in time to the fire bombing of Tokyo in 1945 and covers her experiences in this very different and unfamiliar environment. (source: saizen-fansubs)

Ryuukyuu Timeline: Mirai Shoujo to Inishie no Ou

Ryukyu timeline: the girl from future and the ancient king.

A historical fantasy that unfolds a mysterious story between a high-school girl from Urasoe and Satto, the king of the Ryukyu Kingdom. (Source: AniDB)

Are You OK? Season 2

This story takes place in ancient Liang, where many locals, upon their deaths, have their bodies inhabited by souls from 2,000 years in the future, transforming into time travelers. These time travelers bring advanced experiences and knowledge to Liang, simultaneously raising suspicions and concerns among the reigning emperor. Amidst the changing tides, a time traveler named Lou Zhu, who advocates for peace, forms a deep bond with Zuo Yunqi, a native member of a prominent family, and attempts to find a path to progress and coexistence for all. However, tensions between the imperial court and radical time travelers escalate rapidly. In an explosive incident, Lou Zhu becomes entangled to prevent mutual destruction but tragically gets buried under a collapsing mountain, and his fate remains uncertain. Half a year passes in the blink of an eye. Seizing the opportunity presented by the major explosion, the emperor orders the eradication of all time travelers, while a radical time traveler organization called the "Pioneers," led by Jiao Jiaoran, seeks to use the upheaval to overthrow the imperial authority and gain an advantage in warfare through the use of modern weaponry. Both sides share a common focus—the legendary Lou Zhu, who is said to be recovering from injuries in the martial arts community.

Harukanaru Toki no Naka de: Hachiyou Shou Recap

A recap of the Harukanaru Toki no Naka de: Hachiyou Shou series included on the special "making-of" DVD release of the Harukanaru Toki no Naka de: Maihitoyo movie.

Ryuukyuu Timeline 2: Tedako no Machi Tanbou

Ryukyu timeline 2: searching for the city of the tedako.

A historical fantasy that unfolds a mysterious story between a high-school girls – Akari, Sarah and Tsubasa – and Satto, the king of the Ryukyu Kingdom. (Source: AniDB)

Kujakuou: Sengoku Tensei

Kujakuou sengokutensei.

A promotional anime for the 2nd volume release of Makoto Ogino's Kujakuou: Sengoku Tensei manga.

Duel Masters King Max

The story of Duel Masters King entered the "next stage" with the new series. The theme of the new series is "time travel." (Source: ANN)

Music video of the song Suki da by YOASOBI.

Heroes of the Ancient Olympic Games

Follow the adventures of Mao, a Japanese teenager and aspiring runner, as she travels back to ancient Greece to learn about the Olympic Games. (Source: olympics.com)

Neko Neko Nihonshi Movie: Ryouma no Hachamecha Time Travel ze yo!

(No synopsis yet.)

Tusin Jeonsaenggi PV

Doom breaker pv.

Promotional video for the Naver Webtoon manhwa Doom Breaker.

Moshi Meta: Moshi Joshikousei ga Metaverse de Miko ni Nattara

Meng Hui Jinsha Cheng

The dreams of jinsha.

Xiao Long is a modern day middle-school student, who, after being transported 3,000 years back in time to the ancient kingdom of Jinsha, discovers his true destiny. Jinsha is a beautiful and magical place but plagued by a mysterious evil energy which its inhabitants fear they can't hold off, much less defeat. After the school boy witnesses the beginnings of the destruction by the forces of darkness on this ancient land, he is overcome with sadness and pledges to help. Upon discovering a special connection with nature, Xiao Long gains the trust of the beautiful young Princess Hau'er and her loyal subjects and together they fight the wicked forces surrounding them to restore peace across the kingdom. Along the way, Xiao Long reforms himself into a courageous boy who forgoes his self-centered behavior to coexist harmoniously with others. (Source: IMDB)

World Heroes

An animated special based on the World Heroes fighting game series by ADK.

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The 11 Best Time Travel Anime of All Time

The incredible Mamoru Hosoda’s latest film Mirai hits select theaters this week , and its story about a magical garden that functions as a gateway for time travel got me excited to revisit some of my favorite anime time travel stories. With so many options out there, it’s easy to find yourself entangled—quantumly or otherwise—in a whole realm of titles. So on today’s episode of The Dan Cave , we’re gonna tachyon a few options for you with a rundown of the best time travel anime you need to put in your eyeballs.[brightcove video_id=”5972309587001″ brightcove_account_id=”3653334524001″ brightcove_player_id=“rJs2ZD8xâ€]

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

Image: Madhouse

If you could you go back in time and fix minor mistakes in your life, would you do it? As much as I’d like to think I have self control, I would be screwing up the time stream more than a barrel of butterfly poison in a heartbeat. And that’s exactly what Makoto Konno does in The Girl Who Leapt Through Time . And like so many Ashton Kutchers before her, Makoto discovers that altering her actions can lead to terrible consequences, especially for those around her. What follows is Makoto using a limited number of leaps through time to try and fix what she managed to break before time itself is irreparably broken. As for me, I’d probably run out of leaps on some trivial nonsense like changing what appetizer I ordered the other night to something tastier. How was I supposed to know the calamari was a bad choice?!

Steins;Gate

Image: Funimation

Let’s be honest, if I didn’t include this, it would open up a rift in space and time as we know it because Steins;Gate is one of the best time travel anime in every reality. It’s he story of a self-styled mad scientist, Rintaro Okabe, who invents weird gadgets in the “Future Gadget Laboratory,” which is really just an apartment he shares with his pals: the ditzy Mayuri and the horned up hacker Daru. Together they create the most ambitious crossover since Catdog : the Phone Microwave. Except this doesn’t just let you nuke Hot Pockets through the power of emoji; it lets you send text messages back in time. What follows is a tangled web of love, lies, and murders most foul as they begin altering the flow of time as we know it. Mostly it’s a case study in why you should be extra careful the next time you send someone a regrettable late-night text. These things are literally called D-Mails. I mean, come on.

Mirai Nikki

Do you ever have conversations with yourself? I spend what scientists call “an uncomfortable amount of time†talking to myself in the car every day. But that’s just my overactive brain. When high school student Yukiteru Amano talks to his imaginary friends, Deus Ex Machina and Murmur, they turn out to be the god of space and time and a servant of the gods, respectively. Yukiteru is gifted a diary from this deity that is filled with entries about brutal, bloody battles that take place in the future. They describe a horrific battle royale between Yukiteru and 11 other people who possess these mysterious diaries. Fortunately for Yukiteru, his classmate Yuno has sworn to protect him, and murders basically everyone who tries to come for him. Unfortunately for Yukiteru, she is also madly in love with him and may have some ulterior motives. All of this just makes me deeply grateful that I deleted my LiveJournal before it could plunge me into a competitive slaughterfest.

Thermae Romae

Image: Discotek Media

Not every time travel anime has to be about preventing the apocalypse. Sometimes they’re about being a fish out of water enjoying new experiences. And that’s exactly what happens in Thermae Romae , the story of a Lucius, an ancient Roman architect who designed bathhouses that is suddenly transported to modern-day Japan where—surprise, surprise—he has the time of his life at Japanese bathhouses. And much like luxuriating in steaming hot water, it’ll leave you feeling nice and toasty inside.

Occult Academy

Image: A-1 Pictures

In the year 2012, aliens invaded planet Earth. Faced with certain destruction, mankind sent time travelers back to the year 1999 in order to prevent the coming apocalypse by destroying an artifact known as the Nostradamus Key, which triggers the eventual alien invasion. It’s up to Maya, the headmaster of the titular spooky high school, and a time traveler named Fumiaki to hunt down the key, and wind up fighting everything from demons to mothmen to chupacabras along the way. So in other words, this is the true story of Bizarre States .

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Image: Aniplex of America

Fighting evil by moonlight, horrifying everyone who watches it by daylight, never running from a real fight, this absolutely isn’t sailor moon. Madoka is an incredible, subversive take on the magical girl genre and while it isn’t a time travel anime per se, time travel does factor into the plot in a way that will genuinely surprise you and leave you reeling long after the credits roll. That is, of course, if you haven’t already been thrown for approximately 45,000 other loops by this frequently surprising and surprisingly freaky series.

Image:  Crunchyroll

What would you do if you got a letter from yourself in the mail? I’d probably try real hard to remember if this was some sixth grade project and when I realized it wasn’t, I’d probably start freaking out. When it happens to high schooler Naho Takamiya, she is skeptical until enough corroborating events happen to prove that it’s from her 26-year-old self in the future. The note is full of tips on how to correct small mistakes in her own life, but more importantly it contains a warning about a transfer student named Kakeru. Be careful around him, it urges, as he is not around in the future. From that cryptic warning springs a heartfelt, humorous and highly enjoyable shoujo romance that wins points for style if not for originality.

Image: Geneon Entertainment

One of my favorite books when I was younger was William R. Forstchen’s The Lost Regiment , which tells the story of a Union Army regiment from the Civil War getting transported to an alien world. Zipang checks off many of the same alt-history boxes with its tale of a platoon of modern-day Japanese soldiers who suddenly find themselves transported back in time to World War II. With their knowledge of world history and their advanced military strategy, they could feasibly win the war for Japan. But the Japan of World War II is much different than the one they left behind. And despite their intentions not to get involved or alter history, things go to hell in a handbasket faster than I can eat my body weight in takoyaki, which in case you don’t know is uncomfortably quick.

Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World

Subaru Natsuki is having a terrible, horrible, no-good very bad day. After leaving the convenience store, he finds himself ripped from the world he knew and transported into a fantasy land. He befriends a half-elf girl named Satella…only to get murdered by a bunch of goons. When Subaru wakes up, he isn’t in some sweet hereafter; rather, he is living the same day over and over again. Can he use his knowledge of history to avoid getting killed, or is he doomed to be the world’s saddest and meatiest GIF of all time? You’ll just have to watch to find out.

Nobunaga Concerto

Image: Fuji TV

The best history teachers really know how to make the past come alive. Unfortunately for Saburou, his teacher sucked and he had no interest in Japanese history. Which is unfortunate because before he knew it, Saburou found himself transported back in time to the Sengoku Era , dropped at the feet of none other than Oda Nobunaga, the legendary legendary Japanese daimyo who attempted to unify Japan during the late sixteenth century. Even weirder? The two look almost identical. And before he knew it, Saburou was no longer a high school student, but the stand-in for one of Japan’s most high-profile military figures. The rest, as they say, is history. Specifically historical fiction.

Some people possess incredible abilities. Usain Bolt can run faster than anyone on Earth, Kyle Hill can climb like a spider monkey, Kid Rock can smell a pig from a mile away. And in Erased , manga artist Satoru Fujinuma can travel back in time moments before something horrible is about to happen to him so he can try and prevent it. When his mother is suddenly and brutally murdered, Satoru finds himself transported back in time all the way back to 1988, when he was in elementary school. This time, he has a chance to prevent a very different tragedy: the abduction and murder of one of his classmates, Kayo Hinazuki. And when it’s done, you’ll find yourself wishing you could travel back to a time before you’d seen it so you can watch it all over again for the very first time.And those are some of the best time travel anime of all time! But tell me—which is your favorite? What would you add to this list? Let me know in the comments below.

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Dan Casey is the senior editor of Nerdist and the author of books about  Star Wars  and  the Avengers . Follow him on Twitter ( @DanCasey ).

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